A realist evaluation of online examinations and remote proctoring for pre-registration nursing students
Abstract
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in 2021, it was not possible for face-to-face examinations to be held on Northumbria University campus. Alternative examination methods needed to be utilised; however, due to the Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements for nursing students, these also needed to be appropriately supervised. This research study aimed to evaluate and explore the use of remote proctoring services for online unseen exams and how this changing assessment strategy affected pre-registration nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A realist evaluation methodology was used to uncover understanding that can improve undergraduate implementation of online proctoring by providing explanations and understanding into why online proctoring programmes may or may not work, for whom, and in what contexts. Pre-registration nursing students from all fields of nursing (BSc and MSc) who sat an online assessment in 2021 and 2022 were invited to participate in an online survey and were recruited using purposeful and volunteer sampling. Students (n=87) completed the online survey, which contained both qualitative and quantitative questions. Data was independently analysed, and emerging themes identified were compared and agreed upon by the research team. Five interconnecting themes emerged which were formulated into a diagram comprising the following: familiarity with software; practice with hardware; confidence with IT issues; ongoing pastoral support; and academic misconduct awareness. The findings of this study might help inform the academic institution’s practices regarding the benefits of conducting examinations and assessments remotely and the necessary steps to take in order to enhance students’ experiences of using this alternative approach.
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Author's Biography
Claire Ford joined the teaching team at Northumbria University in 2013, having spent time working within perioperative care and completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery. She studied for her BSc (Hons) and PG Dip at Northumbria University and won academic awards for both and the Heath Award in 2009. As an Assistant Professor, she teaches on a range of national/international healthcare programmes and is also joint Programme Leader for the MSc Nursing Programme. She has passion for pain management, clinical skills, women’s health, gynaecology, perioperative care, simulation and immersive technologies. She has published many articles and is actively involved in several research projects examining the use of media and technology to facilitate deep learning. She is the co-founder of the ‘Skills for Practice’ website, which was shortlisted for the Student Nursing Times Awards 2016 – Teaching Innovation of the Year.
Laura Jillian Park Laura Park is a lecturer at Northumbria University and has a nursing background in stroke care. Laura’s teaching and research passions include clinical skills, simulation, interprofessional working/learning, technology enhanced learning (TEL) and virtual reality (VR). The focus of Laura’s PhD was working relationships within an interprofessional stroke context. Laura is currently involved in a number of research projects, which include research into alternative assessment strategies following COVID-19, VR pedagogy and simulation. Laura has had opportunities to teach internationally with her current international experience including teaching in country as well as module development and leadership on a Joint BSc Nursing programme in Malta. Laura is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is currently completing the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) qualification.
Claire Leader is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University. Her research interests include innovative teaching approaches through clinical simulation and the use of digital technology to enhance learning and assessment. Claire is currently in the final year of PhD study, exploring the role of healthcare leadership and workforce well-being. As a nurse and midwife, Claire plays an active role in collaborative research across disciplines and teaches on pre-registration undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in both nursing and midwifery.
Citation
Ford, Claire, Jillian Park, Laura and Leader, Claire (2023, September 1). A realist evaluation of online examinations and remote proctoring for pre-registration nursing students. In the Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, Volume 2, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.69554/KONU3143.
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