Digital testing

Digital tests are tests administered using a computer in a dedicates exam location at the university. In most cases, these are digital variants of tests that are also administered using pen and paper (multiple-choice, essay), but it is also possible to include assignments that make use of special software such as Excel or SPSS. This option is not available at all testing locations.

'Online tests', tests that were made at home by students during the COVID-19 crisis in particular, do not fall under the heading of 'digital tests' and will not further be discussed here.

How does it work?

Digital examinations are primarily administered in three rooms in the Aletta Jacobs Hall. For small groups, digital examinations can also be administered in the multimedia rooms of the Harmonie Complex. Both locations can also accommodate tests that use programs other than Blackboard.

Digital examinations have to be reported in timely fashion (before the start of the academic year), so that a suitable location can be assigned in the timetable. Examination support in the Aletta Jacobs Hall is provided by team Assessment Support from ESI team (Educational Support & Innovation, the central teaching support unit of the University of Groningen). At the Harmonie Complex support is provided by CLIQ. These teams are responsible for monitoring the steps involved in administering a digital test.
The following links contain further information about administering digital tests in the Aletta Jacobs Hall and the Harmonie Complex . For additional information see also the site of Educational Support and Innovation.

Who can I contact if I have a question ?

How can I use it for teaching?

Digital tests offer a number of advantages over pen-and-paper tests. These advantages are most clearly apparent with essay questions. Students find it easier to type a text on a computer than to write it out on paper. Lecturers enjoy the advantages of more legible texts and the simplified logistics of marking by more than one lecturer. For multiple-choice examinations, the advantage lies primarily in faster (in some cases preliminary) marking, the option of using images and audio and video clips, and the easy reuse of examination questions.

There are also disadvantages. Entering questions into the system takes more time, and this investment only pays off once you have created a good item bank of reusable questions. In addition, digital tests require careful technical and organizational support, which means that lecturers must respect strict deadlines.

Digital testing in the Aletta Jacobs Hall

The ESI (Educational Support & Innovation) department is responsible for supporting digital testing in the Aletta Jacobs Hall. To this end ESI uses a protocol consisting of a number of steps. This protocol is supported by team Assessment Support, a team of test experts from ESI. Approximately five weeks before the examination date a special Blackboard exam course is created, in which the lecturer can enter the exam questions. Communication between ESI and the lecturer takes place via the Exam management portal, a special component in this exam course.

Examinations have to be entered in Blackboard at least one week before the examination date. All examinations are tested beforehand by team Assessment Support. During the examination a member of the Nestor support team will be present to provide technical support. As with regular examinations, the degree programme is responsible for appointing invigilators.

Digital testing in the Harmonie Complex

Thanks to the special partitions that have been placed between computers, the three multimedia rooms of the Harmonie building are now suitable for administering digital tests to groups of maximum 22 students. In addition to Blackboard, you can also administer tests using other programs, such as SPSS.

In collaboration with the staff of a number of cluster secretariats, CLIQ provides support in administering tests in these rooms. This involves, among other things, creating a separate test course for every examination (as is done for digital tests in the Aletta Jacobs Hall) and, in consultation with the lecturer, blocking students’ access to Internet. In addition, half an hour before the start of the examination, a staff member will be present on location to provide assistance in launching the examination, and he or she will remain available throughout the examination to solve any potential problems.

Administering examinations in these rooms is subject to the following rules:

• When reserving a multimedia room, the lecturer informs the Timetable Office that this is a digital examination.
• CLIQ creates a separate Blackboard course for the examination.
• The lecturer uploads the examination questions to the test course no later than two weeks before the examination date.
• CLIQ is responsible for coordinating support.