Optimization of computer testing of students: Minimizing the impact of Internet on responses

Abstract

The purpose of the work described in the article was to study the principles of forming control questions for distance testing of students in LMS Moodle and Blackboard in such a way as to minimize the ability of test takers to use the help of search queries on the Internet. The main trends in the responses of university students are analyzed depending on the types of control questions, their wording and the relationship with the availability of lecture material. The distance electronic testing of 3rd year students of university in the discipline “Physical Culture” revealed that the greatest problems for test takers arise with questions on logic, and not on exact knowledge, the answers to which are easily found in lecture material. It was revealed that the vast majority of students when searching for answers to questions of a time-limited test are guided not by their own knowledge, but by marker words in the question text, which they create their own search queries in the text of the lecture or on the Internet. At the same time, a part of the respondents is clearly distinguished, which does not analyze the information provided, but looks at it rather superficially and tries to choose the one that is closer to the marker word from the possible answers. Based on the research and experience in the LMS environment, the article gives practical recommendations for teachers on the competent creation of control tasks and the effective management of response statistics, which will allow more objective assessment of students’ knowledge in various academic disciplines.