Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - E-Assessment

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Moodle was originally intended as a teaching-learning software that allows examinations (see Test and Assignment Module as well as Assessment Overview), but is not designed to meet examination-specific requirements such as the preservation of the principle of equality (prevention of cheating attempts, clear identification) or a user interface reduced to an examination. Therefore, a Moodle cannot serve both aspects of university teaching (teaching-learning and examination) equally. For this reason, there is a HU-Moodle (teaching Moodle) and an examination Moodle ("Prüfungsmoodle") at the HU, which is increasingly being tailored to the needs of digital examinations.

Why necessarily Moodle for exams?

This question is asked again and again, since there are also software solutions that are only used for examination purposes, e.g. LPLUS. However, despite all the difficulties that may be associated with using Moodle for exams, there are two clear arguments in favour of Moodle:

1. Moodle is the established, i.e. for teachers and students the known and familiar software environment at HU. They can use it and know its functionalities. In addition, uniform systems open up the possibility for teachers to import materials from the teaching Moodle into the examination Moodle. However, it is more important that the teachers can design exams independently in the examination Moodle and usually only need support with detailed questions. They can see for themselves what works and what doesn't, so that they can develop their examination tasks independently.
2. Moodle is an open source software with a broad developer community. For years, the HU has been clearly committed to open software solutions, which also offer the advantage of hosting the software on its own servers and thus being able to decide without a doubt about the whereabouts of the data.

Conclusion: The HU is also about autonomy and the ability to take responsibility for examinations, which requires quite a bit of effort, but also gives individuals the freedom to shape their own lives, which "bought-in" software cannot do due to contracts.

Examination Moodle and other components

Like the teaching Moodle (see HU Digital Teaching and Learning Landscape, HDL3 for short), the examination Moodle is the central component for digital examinations in presence and distance learning. It can be supplemented and expanded by various other software solutions as needed. Here, a distinction must be made between software that is generally required, such as a word editing programme with PDF export, and special applications with potential additional costs, e.g. SPSS. The latter are not suitable for use in digital examinations, as students may not be required to install software for which they have to pay. Even the installation of a free exam browser for use in distance exams is subject to strict regulations (§ 107b,1 ZSP-HU). In principle, only tools should be used (LINK follows, appendix) that are approved at the HU according to corresponding test procedures (ZSP-HU § 107a, 4).

Special features of the examination Moodle as examination software

For legal reasons, student employees are only allowed to carry out their work as an assistant ("examination assistant") with their HU employee account in order to clearly distinguish themselves from their role as the person to be examined. If the student employees do not yet have a corresponding account, they can apply for one at the User Support (cms-benutzerberatung@hu-berlin.de).

There are the following roles in Prüfungsmoodle:

• Examination office (course administration and assessment export),
• Examiner (like the person responsible for the course in the Lehrmoodle),
• Examination assistant (examiner rights, but no export rights),
• Correction assistant (may only assess),
• Contact person for enrolment key (is additionally assigned to an existing role in the course and is considered as contact person for the enrolment key).

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