Abstract:

While digital teaching and diverse forms of e-learning are established in higher education, examination situations often rely on traditional (oral or pen) and paper formats. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, many professors, together with their colleges and universities, developed digital forms of examination. This revealed organisational, structural and legal weaknesses. As a result, a significant investment has been made in the development of digital examination structures. However, it remains unclear whether students prefer digital or traditional examination formats. In addition, various variables such as uncertainty in dealing with digital examinations (digital examination competence) or belief in technical reliability could also have an influence on preference. This study analyses the influencing factors and uses them to predict students' choices.

In order to figure out, which kind of exam students prefer, a project has been launched. Therefore, German bachelor students from different studies participated. They all were free to decide whether to take the exam in the traditional way using pen and paper or digitally in an exam software. The study addresses the students decisions regarding the choice of examination format, compares their motivations before the exam with their satisfaction after it and identifies potential reasons for their decision. Therefore, the students answered two different questionnaire (one before and one after the exam). The preliminary survey was used to obtain, among other things, a picture of the students preferred form of examination. Most students (63%) favoured the digital form. However, the actual decision on the form of examination had to be made immediately before the examination. Contrary to the opinions expressed in the preliminary survey, far fewer students (15%) chose the digital form. The second questionnaire distributed immediately after the exam intended to provide information about the reasons for this behaviour. Furthermore, a third questionnaire will be distributed before the next semester starts.

Sample and Data Collection: The sample consists of bachelor students in Germany. They are from different studies like business administration, business engineering and business informatics. They are more likely to be in the first part of their bachelor's degree. A total of 100 students participated in the preliminary survey and 182 in the one direct after the exam. Another questionnaire will be distributed at the time of grade allocation. The questionnaires build upon each other, primarily consisting of single-choice questions, 5-point Likert scale questions with the option to abstain and additional open-text fields for individual responses.

Keywords:

Digital learning, E-Assessment, student requirements, rational choice model.