eExams transforming curriculum

Abstract

The eExams project in Australia has sought to prove a sustainable, scalable and securepathway for computers to be used in examinations. Initially developed at the University ofTasmania, it has been used in various degree courses and in the pre-tertiary sector acrossthe state.Over a thousand students have used the eExam System since its launch in 2009. Candidatesbring their own devices to the examination, and boot up from a specially crafted USB stick.This provides the same modified Ubuntu software environment (based on Linux) and a fulloffice suite to every candidate; access to the exam materials and a secure partition for thecandidates answers.As with any long-term software development project, the eExam System continues to evolve.Work on the version 5 began at the University of Queensland in 2013. This will add a copyof the learning management system Moodle on the USB stick to include a range of computermarked question types, such as short answer and multiple-choice. A restricted networkconnection to an institutional LMS is also possible, using a secure gateway.This presentation illustrates the way users have made the transition from paper-replacementto post-paper examinations. The style of emerging post-paper exams illuminates the way inwhich curriculum change may be facilitated through this new assessment format.