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Evaluating students with online testing modules in engineering economics: A comparision of student performance with online testing and with traditional assessments
Engineering Economist
  • Vrishtee Rane, Iowa State University
  • Cameron A. MacKenzie, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2020
DOI
10.1080/0013791X.2020.1784336
Abstract

Engineering economics courses often require students to take time-constrained, in-class exams in which they solve problems by hand, possibly referring to interest rate tables. Many students rely on partial credit to successfully pass exams. Outside of the classroom, professionals rely on computers to solve engineering economics problems, which raises the question of whether engineering economics courses are correctly assessing student performance. This article describes the study of a large engineering economics class using a non-conventional testing method. Student performance was evaluated using online testing modules with a stringent passing criterion, and the tests could be taken multiple times. The questions for each testing attempt were pulled from a database so that students received a new question every time. We compare the performance of students who were assessed using traditional methods with the performance of students assessed with these online testing modules. Our analysis shows that, overall, students who were assessed using the online testing modules earned better grades than students who were assessed via traditional methods. The analysis also discusses several benefits and drawbacks to using online assessments compared with traditional methods. The online assessment method could be useful in large engineering courses that are formula-based.

Comments

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Engineering Economist on June 29, 2020 available online at DOI: 10.1080/0013791X.2020.1784336. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Vrishtee Rane and Cameron A. MacKenzie. "Evaluating students with online testing modules in engineering economics: A comparision of student performance with online testing and with traditional assessments" Engineering Economist Vol. 65 Iss. 3 (2020) p. 213 - 235
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/cameron_mackenzie/56/