Academic Testing and Assessment for Autumn Semester 2020
To learn more about College Testing Services, go to www.cscc.edu/testing.
At Columbus State Community College, technology goes far beyond being a solution to classroom issues; rather, it is part of our pedagogy. Because our learning environment has changed with the shift to increased distance learning, we are all thinking even more critically (and creatively) about the role of alternative assessments and technology in education. In addition, this increased online environment calls for a renewed focus on building trust in our academic community and having open dialogue about academic integrity.
To ensure that faculty are effectively able to incorporate assessment strategies during this time, an honest and critical audit of educational technologies has been conducted, taking into account the pedagogical environment within which our faculty and students work. Important considerations in restructuring testing/assessment in the remote environment have been identified as:
- Access to technology (hardware and software)
- Dependability/reliability of internet connections
- Academic misconduct concerns
- Technology training for faculty and students
- Ongoing technical support for faculty and students
Due to COVID-19, College Testing Centers are closed. Our audit has identified four main modes of testing/assessment that will be implemented by faculty Autumn Semester 2020:
1. Employing alternative assessments that do not require proctoring.
2. Maximizing the use of Blackboard testing features.
3. Live-virtual proctoring of exams through software like Collaborate, Teams, Webex, and Zoom.
4. Using Respondus Monitor/Lockdown Browser to proctor tests (reserved for limited, high-stakes testing/assessment).
We are committed to remaining flexible and caring and taking into consideration the chaotic environments for both our students and faculty during this time, and to establishing easy-to-access resources and services to support both faculty and students as we navigate these unexpected times together.
For more information go to the Academic Testing tab on the Beyond Classrooms website.