Interactive PDF Forms to Conduct Online Examinations in University Education: Practical Experience and Lessons Learned

Authors

  • Imke Keimer Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) Zentralstrasse 9 P.O. Box 2940 CH- 6002 Lucerne
  • Tatiana Agnesens Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Zentralstrasse 9, P.O. Box 2940, CH-6002 Lucerne
  • Carsten Kuechler Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) Zentralstrasse 9 P.O. Box 2940 CH- 6002 Lucerne

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v17i11.27905

Keywords:

Online assessment, Interactive PDF forms, Cognitive Load Theory, Cheating

Abstract


Due to the Corona Pandemic, paper-based examinations had to be transferred to an online format on short notice. At the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts we conducted three online examinations with a total of 816 students using an interactive PDF form. We faced two major challenges redesigning our examinations: 1) avoiding unnecessary stress to students' working memory by choosing a simple examination design and 2) minimizing the possibility of cheating. In our paper we explain how we addressed these challenges working with an interactive PDF form in combination with the learning management system Ilias. Our results show that using an interactive PDF form lowers the extraneous cognitive load on our students, increases our efficiency in correcting, reduces error rates in grading and further allows for faster feedback to our students.

Author Biographies

Imke Keimer, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) Zentralstrasse 9 P.O. Box 2940 CH- 6002 Lucerne

Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ

Tatiana Agnesens, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), Zentralstrasse 9, P.O. Box 2940, CH-6002 Lucerne

Institute of Financial Services Zug IFZ

Carsten Kuechler, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) Zentralstrasse 9 P.O. Box 2940 CH- 6002 Lucerne

Institute of Business and Regional Economics IBR
Cover iJET Vol. 17 No. 11 (2022)

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Published

2022-06-07

How to Cite

Keimer, I., Agnesens, T., & Kuechler, C. (2022). Interactive PDF Forms to Conduct Online Examinations in University Education: Practical Experience and Lessons Learned. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 17(11), pp. 4–16. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v17i11.27905

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 11 (2022)

Section

Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Imke Keimer, Tatiana Agnesens, Carsten Kuechler

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