Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on Covid 19 Challenges April 2021 Pp.37-54
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/covid.3
E-Assessment at Jordan’s Universities in the Time of the COVID-19 Lockdown: Challenges and
Solutions
Rami A. Sa’di
Department of English, Community College of Al-Kharj
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
Corresponding Author: slmss2002@yahoo.co.uk
Ahmad Abdelraziq
Department of English, Princess Sumaya University for Technology,
Amman, Jordan
Talha A. Sharadgah
Department of English, Community College of Al-Kharj
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
Received: 12/24/2020 Accepted: 3/28/2021 Published:4/26/2021
Abstract:
This study aims to delineate the observations of instructors at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in Jordan with regards to online assessment of their students in the time of the Coronavirus lockdown. Specifically, the study attempts to find out whether universities are prepared for online assessment during the lockdown and to probe feasible solutions to the challenges that hinder proper assessment in a virtual learning environment (VLE). As the challenges are determined, the study suggests a number of practical solutions. Data on faculty’s observations were obtained by means of an online survey. Eighty-three faculty members participated in this study. The findings showed that universities swiftly shifted to e-classes during the lockdown but that they were not adequately primed for an appropriate assessment in an online environment. The findings further showed that instructors were skeptical about the efficiency of remote assessment of their students. In addition, faculty members believed there was still a long way to go with regards to (1) the unavailability of reliable software to preclude academic dishonesty; (2) some faculty being unable to assess their students in VLE as it was their first experience; and (3) formative assessment not having been given enough attention. It is concluded that universities should have an exigency strategy for any sudden future lockdowns. This strategy includes, among other things, intensive e-teaching and e-testing training for faculty, high-tech invigilation and plagiarism software, reliable e-learning platforms with sufficient Internet bandwidth, setting up an e-assessment council at the university level.
Keywords: e-assessment, remote assessment, e-test, COVID-19, Jordan, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, challenges and solutions
Cite as: Sa’di,R.A., Abdelraziq, A., & Talha A. Sharadgah, T. A. (2021). E-Assessment at Jordan’s Universities in the Time of the COVID-19 Lockdown: Challenges and Solutions. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Special Issue on Covid 19 Challenges (1) 37-54.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/covid.3
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