Long Distance Collaborative Use of the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine eAssessment System by the Medical University of Ohio at Toledo

Abstract

The Office of Academic Computing at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Case) has created a web-based eAssessment system to administer secure computer-based examinations, quizzes, and exercises. The system has been used at Case since 1999 to administer formative and summative assessments throughout the 4 year curriculum. The system (currently .NET) allows faculty to create, score, and analyze multiple choice or short answer questions anywhere/any time via a secure SQL server. Questions can be chosen from a database or constructed new. Faculty control the assessment time, password, and grading. Each question can contain case scenarios, color illustrations, sound files, video clips, Flash animations, and virtual microscope slides. A control panel allows students to move between questions and mark them for review. Analysis of student performance is available to both faculty and students (via an ePortfolio) immediately after the assessment. Because the system is web based, it can be used by faculty and students anywhere as long as they have high speed access to the Internet. The system was successfully used in a graduate course at the Medical University of Ohio (MUO) to administer 6 summative assessments averaging 50 multiple choice questions each to students using notebook computers in a wireless environment. The 120 mile distance between Case and MUO had NO impact on either faculty creating and administering the assessments or students taking them.