Since COVID-19 began, Schreiber has been moving towards using online testing. Now that students are back in school, however, and have settled in, some teachers at our school have been struggling with the issue of deciding whether to give out paper tests or continue with online testing. While many feel it is time for all tests taken in school to be given on paper, there are many benefits that come with online testing that go unnoticed.
One key aspect of online testing that makes it desirable is that it makes tests easily administered. Teachers can input questions into the website that they use and then post the link for students. As long as the students have their school issued Chromebooks in school with them, there is no need for teachers to use up paper.
Additionally, online testing eliminates the possibility of printing errors or typos that might cause the teacher to need to reprint. This strategy, while being environmentally conscious, also allows teachers to stay more organized.
“It is really annoying to have to cross out questions on tests or have them pushed back because the teacher made a small mistake. These problems don’t happen with online tests. The teachers save paper while administering clean tests with little controversy,” said junior Jacob Aponte.
Another concern that is raised for any testing medium is how easily it lends itself to cheating. Paper tests allow for more cheating to occur due to the large student to teacher ratio in classes. In a more spacious room, it is tough for teachers to keep an eye on each student and they are often oblivious to the cheating taking place.
Online tests, however, are highly advanced and are often able to randomize the question order, which limits the students’ ability to communicate answers during the test. For teachers to have to randomize question order or create multiple versions for a paper test is unfair and a burden that they would like to avoid. While some might argue that online cheating is easier, the platforms that many teachers use, such as CastleLearning and Google Forms, are able to track when students change a tab and are in some cases even able to completely lock the students on the test.
“There are so many more advantages to taking tests online. The questions feel much less stressful because the testing websites are so simple. Also, I am not worried about my classmates cheating because they know they will get caught very quickly. I don’t see the point of giving out Chromebooks and paying for testing sites if we don’t use them,” said junior Lucas Gordon.
Lastly, the online tests are often self-grading for multiple choice questions. This benefits both the students and the teachers because instead of having to use a scantron reader or mark answers themselves, teachers can grade the tests more quickly. Also, despite the argument that AP and Regents examinations right now are given on paper, they are beginning to shift towards online testing, so it might be an advantage to practice with online testing during the school year.
“I definitely understand why some prefer to take tests on paper but I think the teachers should at least have the option to test however they feel like. Every class is different. For example, a Spanish test that is testing vocabulary does not need to be restricted to the same rules as math exams in which you must show your work to receive credit. It is a very difficult choice for teachers to make sometimes, but I think there is no need to say one way or the other. However, if I had to choose either online or paper for my last two years of high school, I would definitely choose online because I like to get my grades back quickly,” said junior Brad Grundfast.
For now, there should not be any changes made to the school’s testing policy. I have not heard of any surrounding schools making such changes, but the issue is definitely substantial. Many of the students are content with the mixture of online and paper tests because not all tests are the same. If the school does, however, decide that teachers cannot choose for themselves, the best way is to commit to only testing online.