Online Assessment and Examinations practices at the eCampus of Maseno University in Response to COVID 19 lockdown

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increasing demand for online learning and led to the demand for the offer of online assessment at Maseno university. Prior to the COVID19 pandemic the institution had put in place measures for formative assessment using the institutional online learning platform while the summative assessment and exams was carried out on campus. This study therefore examines the lecturer’s perspective on the practices that were put in place for online assessment during the COVID 19 lock down period so as to establish the consideration needed for successful implementation of online assessment and examinations. A questionnaire was administered to 42 heads of department and departmental exams coordinators who were tasked with implementing the measures for uploading the online exams and monitoring the assessments on the Learning Management system. The results of the study suggest that the implementation of online assessment and exams largely depends on ensuring the appropriate environment to ensure validity, reliability and security of the online assessments. The study further established the need for facilitating administrative procedures, improving infrastructure required for online exams and building the technical and pedagogical capacity of academic staff