Since I started going to Kaplan four years ago, I have tried to keep up with the distance education “industry”.  One of the most debated items is the issue of legitimacy in the test taking process.  A “test” is something we take at certain intervals to make sure that we’ve absorbed the material and have a good understanding of what we have been taught.  

At Kaplan, not all classes have tests.  Most of the tests are in classes taken within the first 2-3 years.  As a senior, we just do projects that are used to demonstrate sufficient knowledge on the topic at hand.  When the tests are given, they are multiple choice tests, and they are open book.  This in itself is a double-edged sword.  Is it considered weak or out of the norm to administer a test that consists of an open book, or is the administration doing whatever it can to ensure that the student knows how to use their resources to find the right answer?

In the distance learning environment, I find that the latter is truer for me.  As adult learners, we have to hope that we’ve developed some level of confidence and respect for ourselves to where we’re not going to “cheat” ourselves into a good grade.  I can appreciate that I need to not only know the material, but know where and how to find the answer if I need to.  Some critics of distance education won’t agree with me.

In the coming years, technology will play a role in the test-taking process in the distance education environment.  Camera technology will be one of those tools.  

Distance education is still trying to gain some legitimacy in some circles.  Great strides have been made over the last few years with traditional brick and mortar schools adding complete online programs to compliment those schools who operate online only.  Using camera technology is going to be one of those tools that will be used by schools to further the cause of distance education in an effort not only to ensure a higher level of integrity in the distance education world, but to silence the critics who complain about the process.

Keep an eye on other technologies that crop up in the next few years.  Proctoring will become one of the lesser-used methods of administering tests.  Technology such as cameras, fingerprint readers, and other verification tools will be introduced as online education continues to grow.