Computer-based, online summative assessment in undergraduate pharmacy teaching: The Manchester experience

Authors

  • Harmesh Aojula School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
  • Jill Barber School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
  • Rod Cullen Distributed Learning Group, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
  • Julie Andrews School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Keywords:

Assessment, CBA, online, pharmacy, summative, WebCT

Abstract

Computer-based assessment (CBA) has many advantages for staff and students in higher education. Although we have successfully used diagnostic and formative CBA for a number of years, the introduction of summative assessments raised additional concerns about development time, academic rigour, security and organisation. To explore these issues, a pilot study was set up to assess the running of online (summative) CBA for 240 students taking a first year course in Cell Biology and Biochemistry. We have compared the scores obtained from computer-based marking, with those obtained from: (a) optical mark readers; and (b) traditional hand-marking of scripts. Computer-based marking of text matching questions was initially compromised by spelling errors but these were reduced to an acceptable (, 1%) level by introducing an online subject-specific list of correctly-spelled options. The development and evaluation of secure online examination procedures is also discussed. We conclude that, with these improvements, online CBA can be used successfully for a range of summative assessments in undergraduate Pharmacy courses.

References

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Published

27-06-2006

How to Cite

Aojula, H., Barber, J., Cullen, R., & Andrews, J. (2006). Computer-based, online summative assessment in undergraduate pharmacy teaching: The Manchester experience. Pharmacy Education, 6(4). Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/93

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2006)

Section

Research Article

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