Exploring Strategies for Assuring the Integrity of Remote Online Assessments

Abstract

Worldwide, universities have had to quickly transition teaching, learning and assessment to the online modality, given the widespread restrictions imposed by governments in response to COVID-19. Although some universities had embraced remote teaching and learning well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the integrity of remote assessments remains a significant concern for institutions and employers who demand competence in graduates. Prior to the pandemic, several tools were used, and different strategies explored for assessing students; however, the assessments done during the pandemic period revealed several anomalies across computing courses at The University of the West Indies. This paper explores the experiences and challenges with final assessment across computing courses, including suspected cheating. Discussion of experiences, analysis of anomalies and recommendations will provide generalisable assessment guidelines for assuring the integrity of assessments.