Χτυποκάρδια στις οθόνες: Οι διαδικτυακές εξετάσεις αξιολόγησης των ενηλίκων εκπαιδευομένων από απόσταση και οι αντιδράσεις τους

Abstract

All adults have a wealth of experiences from various assessment of their learning outcomes during their educational journeys. In the postgraduate programs of the Hellenic Open University, formative assessments are carried out by written assignments submitted online and summative final exams, which are also conducted online since 2020. It is important to understand the effects and responses of adult learners to such assessments. This paper presents the initial results of a study that focuses on the reactions of adult learners before and during their online assessment and proctoring. The data is collected using a questionnaire and the answers of the learners were grouped using the hierarchical cluster analysis technique. This analysis revealed three groups of reactions to online assessment: a) Psycho-physiological reactions, expressed as nervousness, feelings of panic, weakness, etc. b) Bodily reactions of distress and anxiety about the process and the result of the evaluation, expressed by tightness in the stomach, difficulty in breathing, trembling hands, etc. and c) Technical anxiety, related to computer handling and internet malfunctions during exams. These results can help us understand the relationship of adult learners to their assessment.