VTU Introduces Online Evaluation To Cut Down On Bloomers
Engineering students pursuing their PHDs needn’t fret over errors in their results anymore. The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has introduced online evaluation of answer scripts for its PhD students from 2010-11. On a pilot basis, VTU has already scanned the 750 PhD answer scripts.
“Digitizing the answer script is a novel idea and the first-of-its kind in the state. This method saves a lot of time and is error-free,” said H Maheshappa, vice chancellor, VTU.
Manual evaluation is not only time-consuming but leaves multiple scope for errors. “Sometimes, the evaluator would have overlooked a question or missed an answer sheet. There have been instances where wrong marks were awarded due to incorrect totalling. These kind of glitches can easily be curbed through digital evaluation,” Maheshappa added.
According to the VC, in case of multiple solutions, the evaluator will have the freedom to decide. “Fraction marks won’t be awarded. Accidentally, if the evaluator gives more than the maximum marks allotted, the system will reject it immediately,” he said.
The university is also mulling over getting evaluations done from other centres, besides VTU. This method will also allow the university to mail photocopies to students.
HOW IT WORKS
Once exams are over, answer scripts are sent to the university for scanning. The process take only a few minutes and the scripts get stored in the system. A software developed exclusively for digital evaluation helps the evaluator open the answer booklet with just a mouse click. Next, the screen displays a series of register numbers. The evaluator can have his pick. The question for the particular answer is displayed on the screen, along with the scheme of evaluation. This contains marks for each question and the format. For instance, definition — 2 marks, solution — 1 mark, etc. The board chairman designs the scheme.
This concept also allows two evaluators to check the same answer script simultaneously. Marks are totalled digitally and sent to the main server under categories ‘evaluator 1’ and ‘evaluator 2.’ The final evaluator then draws an average out of the two. “In case of a difference of 15 marks or above, the third evaluator reassesses the script. If the marks allotted by him/her are closer to any of those awarded by the previous evaluators, then the average of those two are considered,” Maheshappa explained.
Manual evaluation is not only time-consuming but leaves multiple scope for errors. “Sometimes, the evaluator would have overlooked a question or missed an answer sheet. There have been instances where wrong marks were awarded due to incorrect totalling. These kind of glitches can easily be curbed through digital evaluation,” Maheshappa added.
According to the VC, in case of multiple solutions, the evaluator will have the freedom to decide. “Fraction marks won’t be awarded. Accidentally, if the evaluator gives more than the maximum marks allotted, the system will reject it immediately,” he said.
The university is also mulling over getting evaluations done from other centres, besides VTU. This method will also allow the university to mail photocopies to students.
HOW IT WORKS
Once exams are over, answer scripts are sent to the university for scanning. The process take only a few minutes and the scripts get stored in the system. A software developed exclusively for digital evaluation helps the evaluator open the answer booklet with just a mouse click. Next, the screen displays a series of register numbers. The evaluator can have his pick. The question for the particular answer is displayed on the screen, along with the scheme of evaluation. This contains marks for each question and the format. For instance, definition — 2 marks, solution — 1 mark, etc. The board chairman designs the scheme.
This concept also allows two evaluators to check the same answer script simultaneously. Marks are totalled digitally and sent to the main server under categories ‘evaluator 1’ and ‘evaluator 2.’ The final evaluator then draws an average out of the two. “In case of a difference of 15 marks or above, the third evaluator reassesses the script. If the marks allotted by him/her are closer to any of those awarded by the previous evaluators, then the average of those two are considered,” Maheshappa explained.
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