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Oral Online Exam

Online oral exams enable you to conduct an examination conversation via a web conferencing tool independent of your location.

Areas of application

Oral online exams are suitable for a group size of up to approx. 30 students and are suitable

  • to address complex questions.
  • for subjects in which the ability to express oneself verbally as well as one's appearance are important skills.

Examples

Example 1: In oral exams to test the knowledge of a foreign language, emphasis can be placed on linguistic competences such as listening comprehensioin and pronunciation.

Example 2: Oral examinations can have the form of a presentation. Students prepare a specific topic or subject and present it online via shared screen. For the assessment, the students' knowledge of the subject as well as the presentation techniques and communicative competences count.

Advantages

In oral examinations, you can get a comprehensive picture of the students' knowledge and better understand the chosen solution or approach of the examinee. In case of ambiguities, intermediate questions can be asked to avoid misunderstandings or to go deeper into the topic.

Tools

WU provides Microsoft Teams and Zoom for the conduct of oral examinations. For more information and tutorials, see Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Creating exams

The following criteria must be met to conduct an oral exam via video conference:

  • At the beginning of the exam, get your students' consent ("I agree with this method of examination."). He / she has to agree that the exam is being conducted live via Microsoft Teams and make a respective note in the examination report. Please note that the exam will not be recorded.
  • For verification of identity, ask your students to hold up their student IDs to the camera.
  • Make sure that you and your students can hear and see each other.
  • The voice, facial expressions and gestures of the students must be realistically perceivable to ensure that the student is really speaking.
  • Make sure that there is the possibility to add a third person to the meeting, if necessary.

Assessment

Please define the assessment criteria for online oral examinations in advance and, if necessary, prepare a sample solution. In order to obtain the most objective assessment possible, you can invite an additional examiner. You can find more information on the assessment of oral examinations in the Teaching & Learning Academy.

Information to students

Inform the students about the exam date and other important details regarding the oral exam by e-mail in a timely manner.

  • Which supporting materials may students use for the oral exam?
  • Do students need an active camera during the exam?
  • Should students be able to share their screen with you?

Agree with your students beforehand on how to proceed in case of technical problems (access to teams, Internet connection). Students must inform you immediately about the reasons for a technical interruption.