Journal of Information Systems Education (JISE)

Volume 19

Volume 19 Number 3, Pages 321-330

Fall 2008


Engaging Students with Constructivist Participatory Examinations in Asynchronous Learning Networks


Dezhi Wu
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT 84720, USA

Michael Bieber
Starr R. Hiltz

New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ 07102, USA

Abstract: The online participatory exam transforms the traditional exam into a constructivist, cooperative and engaging learning experience. Students learn from designing and answering exam questions, from evaluating their peers’ performance, and from reading questions, answers and evaluations. This paper, aimed at faculty who teach online and at researchers interested in online learning, describes the procedures, advantages, and disadvantages of this new approach to the examination process. Five semesters of participatory exam research are analyzed. A majority of students preferred the participatory exam and believed that it increased their learning.

Keywords: e-Learning, Peer assessment, Collaborative learning, Constructivism, Asynchronous learning networks

Download this article: JISE - Volume 19 Number 3, Page 321.pdf


Recommended Citation: Wu, D., Bieber, M., & Hiltz, S. R. (2008). Engaging Students with Constructivist Participatory Examinations in Asynchronous Learning Networks. Journal of Information Systems Education, 19(3), 321-330.