613 | P a g e
‘A STUDY ON PERCEPTION OF UG STUDENTS REGARDING THE ONLINE EXAMS WITH SPECIAL
REFERENCE GIVEN TO SOUTH CANARA DISTRICT’
Riyaz
1, Manu N.K
2, Mahammad Sakheer
31,2,3
Department of PG Studies In Commerce Sacred Heart College Madanthyar D.K
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to obtain a better understanding of the extent to which online exams conducted by several Colleges in South Canara district that will be effective to their students. The online exams are the innovative method of conducting exams in South Canara district. There are many colleges conducting online exams in South Canara district. There were some problems faced by the students while facing the online exams.
In this context, the present paper attempts to give an over view of the perception of the students regarding the online exams and it highlights the general expectations of the students and also discuss various issues &
challenges related to it. More over it also provides suggestion for proper handling of those issues and challenges in online exam facilities provided by some colleges.
Keywords: South Canara, Students, Online, Exam.
I. INTRODUCTION
Online exams are launched because of the destination that is beneficial for both the students and institution.
Modern days this facilities adopted by many colleges for reducing the waste of time for allotting the question papers, collecting the papers and valuations etc. In the online exam system they are using software based websites and uploads the questions wants for the exams. These questions are displayed as a test to the students.
The answers entered by the students are then evaluated and saved. Online exam system fulfills the requirements of the institute’s by giving the quick results and feeds the marks directly in the website of the college. Online exam system was attempted to remove the manual system of conducting exams and recording the marks. This had become a facility which has become a problem to some students. Thus the study is an attempt to look the situation in real with the perspective of students.
II. OBJECTIVES
1. To know the awareness level of the students regarding the procedures of online exam.
2. To identify the problem faced by the students while facing the online exam 3. To suggest the benefits and loopholes of online exam.
614 | P a g e III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Data Collection
For the purpose of study both primary and secondary data has been collected. Primary data has obtained from distribution of questionnaires and secondary data through published sources.
3.2 Sample Size
250 samples are selected randomly and information has been collected through distribution of questionnaire to the UG students of some colleges in South Canara District.
3.3 Limitation
1. The study confined only to 250 respondents of different Colleges in South Canara District.
2. The study has been restricted to only South Canara District.
3. Perception of Institutions has not been taken into consideration.
IV. DATA INTERPRETATIONS
The survey results are organized as follows. In the first section, the demographic profile of respondents is presented. Where 250 students response is taken into consideration and their perception regarding online exams systems is analyzed.
Demographic Profile of the Respondents Table.1
Category Particulars Frequency Percentage
Class
First year 75 30
Second year 90 36
Final year 85 34
Total 250 100
Gender
Male 105 42
Female 145 58
Total 250 100
Stream
Arts 45 18
Commerce 140 56
Science 65 26
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data The Table.1 reveals the demographic profile of the respondents. On the basis of demographic profile we can make following analysis.
615 | P a g e V. AWARENESS LEVEL OF THE PROCEDURES OF ONLINE EXAM SYSTEMS
Table.2
Response Frequency Percentage
Completely aware 60 24
Somewhat aware 180 72
Not aware 10 4
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data
The above table 2 shows that 72% of respondents are somewhat aware of the procedure of online exam system.
It is mainly because lack of depth knowledge of the computer and modern methods of education systems. And 24% of respondents are replied that they are completely aware the procedure of online exam system. Lot of thing is there to do when it comes to the matter of complete awareness of the procedure of online exam system because there are many students came from different villages and they do not have the accurate knowledge of the computers and also usage of internet. By having online exam systems in the college 4% of students responded that they are not at all aware the procedure of online exams.
VI. BEST METHOD OF EXAM SYSTEM
Table.3
Response Frequency Percentage
Online exam method 80 32
Written exam method 105 42
Both 65 26
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data
The Table.3 shows that 42% of respondents responded that written exam is the best method of exam system. It is a kind of mind set of the students that they are never agree to change according to the changes of the technology because lack of the technological knowledge. Only the students who are financially good they will get the complete knowledge of modern technology so 32% of students responded that online exam is the best method of exam system. 26% students responded that both the methods also good for conducting the exams.
According to the study written exam method is best method of writing the exam.
616 | P a g e VII. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS IN ONLINE EXAMS
Table.4 Facilities Strongly
agree
Percentage Agree Percentage Disagree Percentage
Multiple choice questions 175 70 45 18 30 12
Long answer questions 40 16 25 10 185 74
Increasing time limit 180 72 50 20 20 8
Verifying the answers 215 86 15 6 20 8
Negative marks 85 34 105 42 60 24
Source: Primary Data The Table 4 shows the level of general expectations of students with regard to online exam. Out of 250 respondents, 70% of respondents strongly agreed that the expectations for conducting only multiple choice questions, 72% respondents strongly agreed that an increasing the time limits for the exam and 86% of respondent are also strongly agreed to verifying the answers after attempting the online exam. The 42% of students just agreed for arranging negative marks because of getting accurate results. 74% of students disagreed for adopting the long answer questions in the online exams because they are not fully thorough with typing in the key board of the computers and also some students are not at all able to type the answers in the computers.
617 | P a g e VIII. MISUSE OF ONLINE EXAM SYSTEM
Table.5
Response Frequency Percentage
Yes Always 15 6
Some times 55 22
No 180 72
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data
The Table 5 shows that 72% of respondents responded that the online exam system never misused as per their knowledge. Misuse happens only when the students are fully thorough with the weaknesses of the examiner of doing exam. Only 6% of respondents replied online exams is always misused because some students are always thinking if low scoring students gets more marks then they did fraud in the exam.
IX. ACCURATE RESULTS IN ONLINE EXAMS Table.6
Response Frequency Percentage
Yes 80 32
No 170 68
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data
The Table 6 shows that 68% of respondents responded that the online exams system does not gives accurate results compared to the written examination. This is because of the online examination system more often provides multiple choice questions to all the students in this context low scoring students may get highest marks and vice versa. But32% of respondents agreed as it is sufficient.
618 | P a g e X. PROBLEMS FOR FACING THE ONLINE EXAMS
Table.7
Response Frequency Percentage
Yes 190 76
No 60 24
Total 250 100
Source: primary data
The Table 7 shows 76% of respondents responded that there are many problems while facing the online exams.
It is quite common for many students they may not able to sit for long in front of computers because they are not having the capacity to have more eye contacts with the computers and some technical as well as for practical papers working notes problem may get by the students while facing the online exams. Only 24% students say that there are no problems while facing the online exams.
XI. NATURE OF PROBLEMS IN ONLINE EXAMS Table.8
Response Frequency Percentage
Eye strain problem 40 21.1
Technical problem 100 52.6
Working note problem 45 23.7
Other problems 5 2.6
Total 190 100
Source: Primary Data
The Table 8 shows 52.6% of students responded that they are facing lot of technical problems while attempting the online exams. This is mainly because of some computers may have some little problems in working times like slow working conditions, virus attacks, dim lights, etc. and also while connecting the networks there may get some networks problems, hanging etc. There are 21.1% and 27.7% students responded that they have eye strain problem and working note problems respectively. And there are only 2.6% students having other kinds of problems while facing the online exams.
619 | P a g e XII. POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THE QUESTIONS BEFORE ONLINE EXAMS
Table.9
RESPONSE Frequency Percentage
Yes 20 8
No 230 92
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data The Table 9 shows 92% of student respondents responded do not possible to get the questions before the exams because in the online examination the examiners put many different questions in different orders there for the students might not expect what questions we get in the exams. And the remaining 8% of respondents responded it is possible to get the questions before the exams by collecting old questions with senior students if those questions may repeats.
XIII. SATISFACTION LEVEL OF THE STUDENTS IN ONLINE EXAMS Table.10
Response Frequency Percentage
Highly satisfied 25 10
Satisfied 155 62
Dissatisfied 70 28
Total 250 100
Source: Primary Data
The Table 10 shows the satisfaction level of students regarding online exams. The core objective of online exams is beneficial for both the students and institution but as per above data only 10% of students are highly satisfied with online line exam system. The 62% of students are just satisfied and remaining 14% of students are dissatisfied with online exams. It shows that not possible to change entire exam systems as online exam system without giving perfect knowledge about computers, internets and modern technological changes to all the students.
620 | P a g e XIV. STUDENTS PASSES THE ONLINE EXAMS WITHOUT PREPARING
Table.11
Response Frequency Percentage
Yes 155 62
No 95 38
Total 250 100
Source: primary data
The study revealed that more than 62% of students responded that there are instances where students are passes the online exams without reading for the exam. It is mainly because in online exams they are providing multiple choice questions for just ticking the answers, there for many students just putting the tick as per their guess and they are neglect to read the online exams. It has become normal tendency of students passing the online exams without reading for the exam. It is a kind of burden to the institution to valuating the exact learning capacity of the students.
XV. FINDINGS
Major findings of the study are:
1. It has found that there are many students partially aware about the entire procedure of online exam system.
2. Most of the students feel that written exam system is better for getting accurate results when it compare to the online exam system.
3. It has found that there are many students want to get the accurate results in the online exams.
4. The study reveals the fact that there are some problems facing by the students while taking online exams in front of computers.
5. It is found that technical problem is the main problem to the students while facing the online exams.
6. The study tells that students were satisfied with the online exam system but they are not highly satisfied with that system.
7. It is found that without preparing the exams by putting tick for multiple choice questions in the online exams there is a high chances of passing the online exams.
XVI. SUGGESTION
621 | P a g e 1. In order to make complete awareness about the procedures of online exam system institutions must give
basic computer knowledge and modern technical knowledge to those who are not at all know this knowledge.
2. There is a need for the institutions to adopt the negative marks system in order to giving the accurate results to the students in the online exam.
3. In order avoid technical problems of the online exams institutions must prefer the qualitative computers and other appliances in the examination hall and also they must check all the computers, spare parts of computers and internet connections etc before conducting the exams.
4. In order to increase the overall satisfaction level of the students and make them well prepare for the exams, institutions must adopt the negative marks system for wrong answers then all the students will get the accurate results according to their efforts.
XVII. CONCLUSION
The result of my study shows the perception of under graduate students regarding the usage of online exams.
From the study it is clear that majority of students partially aware about the entire procedure of online exam system and should not fully satisfy with the results. In this context the institutions should try to make aware complete modern technical knowledge in the beginning and they should adopt the negative marks system. In the exam system the student’s satisfaction is also important but lot of thing is there to do when it comes to the matter of high satisfaction of the students. In order to give more satisfaction to the students in online exams, institutions must try to give more accurate results and also try to reduce the technical problem.
REFRENCES
[1]. The Research on Online Examination System of PE Theory Courses. Volume 191(2013). Xing-dong Yang.
North China Electric Power University, Beijing, China.
[2]. A Project Report on ONLINE EXAM SYSTEM. (9/12/2010) Krishna Maurya, Sayed Saqib Abbas, Ajit Prakash Mourya, Shashank Kumar Singh, Awanish kumar Gupta. DLW TRAINING CENTER. Project Incharge Mr. Prashanth Dubey.
ANNEXURE QUESTIONNAIRE Name :
Class : Sex : Stream :
QUESTIONS 1. Do you aware the procedures of online exam systems?
a) Completely aware b) Somewhat aware c) Not aware
622 | P a g e 2. Which is the best method of exam system according to you?
a) Online b) Written exam c) Both
3. What is your general expectation regarding the online exams?
Facilities Strongly agree Agree Disagree Multiple choice question ( ) ( ) ( ) Long answer question ( ) ( ) ( ) Increasing time limit ( ) ( ) ( ) Verifying the answers ( ) ( ) ( ) Negative marks ( ) ( ) ( ) 4. Do you find any misuse of online exam system?
a) Yes b) Some time c) No
5. Do you think online exam systems giving accurate results?
a) Yes b) No
6. Do you found any problems for facing the online exams?
a) Yes b) No
7. If yes what is the problem you are faced?
a) Eye strain problem b) Technical problem c) Working note problem d) Other problems
8. Do you think there is any possibility of getting the questions before the online exams?
a) Yes b) No
9. Have you satisfied with online exams?
a) Highly satisfied b) Some time c) Not satisfied
10. Have you found anywhere students passes the online exams without preparing?
a) Yes b) No
