UNMASKING THE ROADBLOCKS: A STUDY ON CHALLENGES IN ONLINE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION TOOLS FOR EDUCATION

Abstract

COVID-19 and globalization have enabled educational institutions
worldwide to integrate technological resources in language classrooms.
Multiple online resources (websites/applications) have become a part of
classroom practices like Kahoot, Padlet, Word wall, Nearpod, Flipgrid,
Mentimeter, Socrative Quizzes, etc., for teaching and assessment. Utilizing these
resources has made teaching and assessment easier, but many challenges are
faced due to their implementation. The current study aimed to look at the
challenges the educators faced while using Online Tools for
Assessment/Evaluation. The research provided insights and recommendations to
enhance technology integration in language education by identifying these
challenges. A qualitative approach was used to collect and analyze the data.
Participants were selected through convenient and snowball sampling, and data
was collected from them via semi-structured interviews. The respondents
comprised 30 English Language Teachers from various schools, colleges, and
universities in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. A semi-structured interview protocol
was adapted and used to seek honest opinions and perceptions of teachers. The
data was analyzed through thematic analysis. The significant findings in the
research showed that the challenges included lack of teacher training, student
technology usage, student motivation, website errors, limited features in the free
versions of applications, internet issues, difficulty in measuring the learning
outcomes, cheating, and lack of digital literacy. The challenges can be overcome
opportunities like professional development program for teachers. The
significance of the study lies in the fact that it has the potential to enhance the
educational experience, improve access and equity, inform policy, and
contribute to the ongoing evolution of education in a technology-driven world