An Online Undergraduate Medical Examination conducted using the Learning Management System-Moodle 3.9 (A student centric Observational Study)

ABSTRACT

Background: With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, Higher Education Organizations (HEOs), including medical schools, started using online education to effectively teach, and evaluate students’ performances. An increasingly popular contemporary modality offered by the digital e-learning market is a Learning Management System (LMS). Aims and Objectives: The aim isto assess Moodle v. 3.9 as a tool to conduct online medical examinations. The objectives are 1. To collect student feedback 2. To discuss technical aspects with Moodle experts 3. To implement necessary changes based on the feedback and discussion Material and Methods: A short-term longitudinal observational study was conducted at the Symbiosis Medical College for Women, Pune, India to collect feedback from 143 students with regards to their online exam experience with Moodle and the technical difficulties they faced were noted. In collaboration with software experts, certain technical changes pertaining to bandwidth requirements were implemented. Results: We observed that the students require extra time as compared to the online exam scenario for conversion of their answer sheets into PDFs, and this technical aspect needs to be considered while designing such exams. We also established the server bandwidth that is essential for an uninterrupted online exam experience at the institute level. Lastly, student feedback suggested that the online examination environment is perceived as more stressful, compared to its live counterpart. Conclusion: We conclude that cost-effectiveness, user-friendly interface, and a multitude of assessment-related features make Moodle an efficient tool for conducting online medical examinationsattheundergraduatelevel.