I teach several online courses. I use timed exams for some of the courses, while others are open-book, research-type exams without time limits. Sometimes, I use publisher provided test banks as a source of multiple-choice type questions. I tend to select questions that are rather difficult and not readily found in text material. In other words, students have to really think in order to answer the questions.
I'm fully aware that many test banks are readily available via the Internet. Until recently, this did not bother me too much. However, this past term, a couple of grad students showed me how to search for specific questions using Google Search. The students simply copy/pasted a test question into the Google Search line or typed in the question. The search process quickly opened the test databank for a specific chapter and damn near took students right to the question and suggested answer.
I'm reasonably savvy when it comes to technology. However, I did not realize the extent to which test banks and other supposedly restricted publisher-provided support materials were readily available online via Google Search. To see how pervasive this situation might be, I applied the Google Search technique to several questions from several exams. Each search result produced the test bank by chapter, question, and answer.
I've used a variety of techniques to protect exams (both traditional and online formats) and overall course assessment strategies and I've felt pretty comfortable with test results. However, this latest approach to using Google Search has caused me to rethink how I approach testing in traditional, blended, and online course formats.
I am interested in your experiences with this issue. I look forward to reading your comments and suggestions.
Rick Lillie (CSU San Bernardino)
Anonymous Student Comment -- Interesting
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"Why 'Hummingbird' – Google's First New Search Algorithm Since 2001 – Is A Huge Deal," by Gerry Brown, Business Insider, October 3, 2013 ---
http://www.businessinsider.com/google-hummingbird-algorithm-2013-10
Bob Jensen's search helpers are at
http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/Searchh.htm
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Sci-Hub --- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sci-Hub
Sci-Hub Home Page --- https://sci-hub.io/
For example, enter the search term "Accounting" and then be very patient until 10 pages of hits appears on the screen.
"The Research Pirates of the Dark Web," by Kaveh Waddell, The Atlantic, February 9, 2016 ---
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/02/the-research-pirates-of-the-dark-web/461829/
"Online Piracy of Academic Materials Extends to Scholarly Books," by Goldie Blumenstyk, Chronicle of Higher Education, April 12, 2016 ---
http://chronicle.com/article/Online-Piracy-of-Academic/236078?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=28f19c218db84e999bae67908ac03371&elq=a2d406052f3444338ab3c7cd8c38fdcf&elqaid=8627&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2891
"Librarians Find Themselves Caught Between Journal Pirates and Publishers," by Corinne Ruff, Chronicle of Higher Education, February 18, 2016 ---
http://chronicle.com/article/Librarians-Find-Themselves/235353
Bob Jensen's Search Helpers ---
http://www.trinity.edu/rjensen/Searchh.htm
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