Case Study: An Analysis of the Status and Key Technology Design of Digital Examinations

With the rapid development of information technology and the growing popularity of online learning, traditional paper-based examinations are becoming outdated and there is an inevitable shift towards digital examinations. Based on the educational practices of The Open University of China (OUC, the number of students currently represents two thirds of the students in higher distance education), this study analyzes the background, current situation and problems of digital examinations, and looks at the design of key technologies for digital examinations. This study proposes that digital examinations comply with six main design principles: the intercommunication between databases; the importance of scientific examinations; the integration of information technology; the integration of teaching, learning and assessment; the implementation of a range of assessment methods; and the development of different combinations of modules.