Abstract:

Spreadsheets (MS Excel, Calc, etc.) are normally used for mathematical calculus and graphique representation due to their ability to re-calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell is made. However, since spreadsheets are nowasdays really powerful, they can be also used to develop theoretical activities, exams, tests, auto-evaluation tests, being possible to insert diagrams, pictures, sounds or videos in any cell. In this work we propose the design of auto-evaluation tests including all those resources, making questions based on the material inserted in a cell and evaluating the answer made by the student. The logic functions available in the spreadsheet make possible to automatically determine if the text written by the student is correct or not. It is also possible to automatically score the whole exam, showing the result obtained and permitting new attempts.

This kind of tests can be prepared in a relatively few time, there is no need the knowledge of computer programation. This kind of tests can be can be solved individually or in groups, and they can be carried out anywhere by using portable computers, in a computer class or anywhere on-line.

In this work, an example applied to chemical engineering students is shown. Here a total of 30 questions are proposed by using a combination of different diagrams, pictures, sounds, videos, calculus, text, etc. The student must explore each question and write down in the cell below the corresponding answer. Another cell beside will show automatically if the answer is correct or not and the total score obtained anytime during the exam. For the students, this kind of activities are very friendly, motivating and useful. The activity proposed in this work has been succesfully used by the students.

Keywords:

auto-evaluation, evaluation, spreadsheet, multimedia, questionnaire, automatically correction.