Student Performance in an Online vs. Offline Exam

The comparison between online vs offline exams is a subject of considerable discussion and the foundation of many research studies. The trend of e-learning has seen significant growth in the last decade or so, largely due to technological advancement, hence the education sector had to gear towards making certain changes concerning the organizational structure.

With every year as online learning gained traction in terms of attracting the attention of the learners, questions started to arise regarding the overall efficiency of the courses taught online. There have been plenty of researchers carried out by independent analysts/scholars and leading tabloids that suggested two varying results. One study indicated that there is insufficient evidence to prove superior online learning when compared with in-person learning. While the other indicated that online versus offline is scarcely a factor that contributed to the completion of the student’s course.

Similarly, there have been other studies that showed that online learning proved to be immensely beneficial for a lot of people. Investigators and scholars had to look at various indicators to come to a discernible conclusion such as:

• Student’s journal of activity
• Attendance
• Homework
• Test scores
• Study patterns
• Learning approaches
• Student learning styles

A detailed analysis between both online and in-person learning systems can help us to deduce the prime factors which lead to progressive student performance.

Online education and examination 

The technological revolution has opened new gateways for many opportunities most of which persist to either simplify hard manual tasks or improve the conditions of previously existing systems. Digital learning gained prominence due to a lot of underlying factors in response to the amalgamation of education and technology. What followed next was a ‘’snowball effect’’, wherein distance education which was already an established option started to receive momentum and the same respect as the regular course counterpart.

Online assessment system became the cornerstone of the e-learning module, and students from diverse backgrounds were able to avail education. Be it business professionals, stay-at-home parents, or simply other students who want to pursue more than one course at once; for them, this became a viable option. More often than not students fail to enroll themselves in higher education due to personal reasons such as financial constraints, inability to travel far, or other personal commitments.

These kinds of prospective students still aspire to attain quality education but not at the cost of work time, family time. The online educational system provides them with an ideal situation wherein they can freely communicate with their classmates, instructors, and execute any class-related activities such as projects or assignments. Flexibility in time and place is one of the most attractive components of this setup, students who already have a full-time job can opt for an online degree program.

Although there are limited studies that show the relationship between the study time and how he or she performs overall academically, the association between student performance and flexibility cannot be denied. Generally, the students are engaged in work often ensure to make the best of their time studying and completing their class assignments during their leisure time. This itself is a testament to the fact that the students who are online learners are well aware of their course structure and prioritizes accordingly.

The curriculum which is taught in the face-to-face or traditional classroom is subject to careful evaluation and restructuring. Keeping in mind that the subject content which is delivered is concise and practical. In stark contrast to the traditional teaching methodologies, in online classes, a different approach is followed. Student-centered learning which is also known as active learning is a strategy wherein the students take ownership of the projects and have the liberty to independently observe, act and analyze.

As for the degree of efficiency is concerned when it comes to online education, then the consensus is divided. The performance of the students is seen as the parameter to measure the success of any learning platform, hence the grade scores or marks prove to be the deciding factor during the summative evaluation.

Lack of a proper feedback system for both the learners and instructors, inadequate communication, lackluster teaching delivery, etc are major impediments to enriched online learning.

Offline or traditional learning and examination 

Classroom teaching is a standardized traditional way of imparting education that has been in practice since time immemorial. Apart from providing the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with the teacher it also gives the chance for the teacher to respond to the queries in real-time highlighting the dynamic learning attributes.

There are a huge number of students who were not very welcoming to the idea of having to attend online classes in response to the growing circumstances. They were comfortable in the traditional classes as it gave them the chance to collaborate in person with other classmates which also strengthened the communal learning.

Perhaps an online examination system was the only option to conduct any sort of assessment, but many educators pointed out the validity of such examinations. Given the fact the learners would be taking the test from the comfort of their house, there is no assurance that they would not use any unfair means.

Students enrolling in full-time studies face even greater pressure to achieve since their parents pay for additional tuition or coaching. Encouragement, targeted instruction, and teacher-student connection are all emphasized in the classroom, and all contribute to students’ exam performance.

But at the same time, it is noteworthy to mention that all the students within a classroom do not benefit from this system if the educators themselves are not accommodative enough. The teacher plays a significant role in both online and offline educational structures. If the curriculum is not planned in such a way that it proceeds to take care of the weaker sections of the particular class then the platform itself becomes inadequate.

In conclusion 

Researches and studies continue to be conducted, many branches out to suggest that the traditional education system is the ideal platform to conduct examination as it produces more authentic results. Others indicate that online examination is the future of education and with the help of online proctored exams, the issue of integrity or authenticity with which the exams should be conducted would be resolved. While the goal of both traditional and online education is the same, the methodologies differ, instructional quality and curriculum design make all the difference in the overall performance of the students.

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