Video exams and the external examiners: Results from a questionnaire

The Master’s programme in Problem Based Learning in Engineering and Science, MPBL
(www.mpbl.aau.dk), at Aalborg University, is an international programme offering formalized staff
development. The programme is online, worldwide and offered on demand.
The programme is organized exemplarily in accordance the principles in the problem based and
project based learning method used at Aalborg University where students have large influence on
their own teaching and learning.
The programme is also offered in smaller parts as single subject courses (SSC). Passed single
subject courses are accredited to the Master’s programme.
The programme offers streamed videos in combination with other learning resources. Oral exams
have been mediated with the help of Skype and later with Adobe Connect Professional. It has for all
participants - students, examiners and external examiners – been both a challenge and an
opportunity which has brought about new knowledge and experience.
All students in the MPBL Master’s programme responded to a questionnaire [1] that they did not
cheat or receive any help from outside. It was also shown that the more experience the respondents
had with video exams, the more satisfied they were with the exams. Almost all respondents thought
that video exams gave the external examiner the possibility to ensure that the demands were in
accordance with the defined outcomes and see to that the exams were completed in accordance with
the rules.
This paper presents results from a questionnaire focusing on how external examiners experience
video examination.