How to Choose

In the presential teaching/assessment model, written tests follow a relatively simple implementation, with few variations:

A single version for all students;
A limited number (for example 4) of different versions, distributed in order to avoid cheating between students;
Exams with open answers (numerical results, free text, diagrams);
Exams with multiple-choice questions.

The way of implementing these types of written tests is already well-rooted in the practice of the teaching community, knowing when and how to apply each type of test.

When the assessment method is changed to remote, regardless of the concern to avoid fraud (discussed in the Code of Honor section), there is a fundamental issue related to the adaptation of the classic models of written assessments to the new remote distribution of the assessment and collection of the resolutions.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to support written assessments implement new features (unthinkable to apply in paper-based written assessments) but also have their limitations, which affect the methodology used in the assessment.

Additionally, the environment of the assessment (students’ own computers) may require to implement control measures or reduce the possibility of cheating.

In this section some models of written assessments, that can be used in a remote environment, will be presented and how these models can be easily implemented (for both professors and students) on some of the available platforms.

These test models can be divided into two large groups, one based on the concept of sequentially answering questions on a form (similar to google forms) and the other based on uploading a file with the assessment answer.

Systems that allow students to answer sequentially to questions (based on forms) provide a standard set of questions/answers and can integrate mechanisms of scheduling and test correction.

The studied systems are the following:

ExonlineX
Técnico Quizzes
Worksheets@Fenix
Google Classroom Quizzes, it uses Google Forms and integrates them whit Classroom (scheduling and users groups)
Socrative

^{Type of Assessment}	^ExonlineX	^{Quizzes Técnico}	^{Fenix Worksheets}	^{Google Classroom Quizzes / Assignments}	^{Fenix Projects}	^Socrative
^{Multiple Choice}	^Yes	^Yes	^Yes	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^Yes
^{Multiple Choice with images or mathematical formulas in the answers}	^Yes	^No	^{Import through a .XML file}	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^No
^{Multiple Choice with diagrams, chemical formulas, graphics or images in the answers}	^Yes	^Yes	^{Import through a .XML file}	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^No
^{Numerical open questions}	^Yes	^No	^Yes	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^Yes
^{Text open questions}	^Yes	^No	^Yes	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^Yes
^{Complex open questions (with formulas/mathematical expressions)}	^Yes	^No	^No	^{No/ Yes}	^Yes	^No
^{Complex open questions (diagrams, chemical formulas, graphics or images)}	^{Yes (file attached)}	^No	^No	^{No / Yes}	^Yes	^No
^{Questions with formulas/mathematical expressions}	^Yes	^Yes	^{Import through a .XML file}	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^Yes
^{Questions with diagrams, chemical formulas, graphics or images}	^Yes	^Yes	^{Import through a .XML file}	^Yes/ Yes	^Yes	^Yes
^{Automatic correction of multiple choice}	^Yes	^Yes	^Yes	^{Yes/ No}	^No	^Yes
^{Automatic correction of numerical open questions}	^Yes	^No	^Yes	^{Yes / No}	^No	^No
^{Ramdomness of questions to students}	^Yes	^Yes	^Yes	^{Yes / No}	^No	^No
^{Assignment of individualized exercises (use of questions database)}	^Yes	^{Students self study}	^Yes	^{No / No}	^No	^Yes
^{Automatic generation of questions (with parameters combinations)}	^Yes	^No	^No	^{No / No}	^No	^No
^{Assigning different questions to different students}	^Yes	^No	^Yes	^Yes/ Yes	^No	^No