20 years of e-exams at the JGU: Digitization revolutionizes exams!

20 years of e-exams at the JGU: Digitization revolutionizes exams!

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Deutschland - The Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) celebrates a remarkable anniversary. The E-Klururen University of Applied Sciences has been carrying out for 20 years. The first e-exam took place in the winter semester 2004/2005 and has caused significant changes in the examination since then. A total of over 7,000 e-exams were organized, in the framework of which around 600,000 exams were written by students. In the current winter semester 2024/2025, over 250 e-exams have already been carried out.

Apparently there are 644 places for e-exams in eleven different rooms at the JGU, which are technically supervised by the Center for Data Processing (ZDV). A remarkable return is the reopening of the course room 3 in the scientific faculty. Almost all departments on the JGU use e-exams, whereby the departments 02, 03 and 04 stand out.

technical infrastructure and support

The digital test system of the JGU is based on the OpenSource software Ilias, which has been used for e-examples since the beginning of the winter semester 2004/2005. This platform enables a variety of use of question types and clear archiving, coordinated with the legal department and examination law. The Ilias environment is supervised by the ZDV and ensures that technical support takes place exclusively for exams in this system. The prerequisites for use are a current web browser or an app on mobile devices, as well as a valid JGU account that is necessary for students and teachers. External users, on the other hand, can only access public content.

The technical infrastructure includes a server farm with eleven web and database servers at two locations to ensure stability and security during the exams. For teachers, the ZDV offers a exam check function that enables a technical review in front of the e-exams. During the exams, technical support from the e-learning team is available to ensure a smooth process.

advantages and further developments

e-exams offer numerous advantages, including faster correction, automated evaluations and a more objective assessment. Particularly noteworthy is the possibility of integrating different media formats; For example, audio can be used in voice tests. The students currently have 14 question types to design the exam formats individually.

The JGU plans to continue to use the e-exams in the future and to further develop the digital exam formats. An innovative step was the introduction of decentralized e-exams at the International Study and Language College (ISSK), which has been successfully offered since 2014, starting in Ecuador. The first e-exam was also successfully carried out at the Trier Medical Campus in 2024.

The cooperation between different departments of the ZDV is crucial for the success of the e-exams at the JGU. This close cooperation ensures a continuous improvement and adaptation of the digital exam formats to the needs of students and teachers.