This paper presents an overview of the application of Information and Communication Technology in the conduct of post-UTME and other examinations at the University of Ilorin. It provides a brief historical background to the practice at the University, dating back to 2005 when it started by adopting the Pen-and-Paper Testing up to the present practice, using the Computer-Based Testing method. The paper underscored the challenges associated with the former practice, thus justifying the introduction of the latter, thereby justifying it. In conclusion, this paper advocates the widespread adoption of CBT method for the conduct of ISSN 2164-4063 2012 www.macrothink.org/ijld 69 not just the post-UTME examinations, but also other University-based examinations with large population of students in Nigerian Universities owing to the success story of the University of Ilorin.
International Journal of Learning & Development
IntroductionInformation and Communication Technology (ICT) has become, within a very short time, one of the basic building blocks of modern society. Many countries now regard understanding it and mastering its basic skills and concepts as very crucial in education. This is because it adds value to the processes of learning and to the organization and administration of learning institutions. It encompasses different types of technologies, which are utilized for capturing, processing and transmitting data and information, using computer facilities. It is an umbrella term that includes communication device or application, encompassing radio, television, cellular phones, computers, network, hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them (Kumar, 2006).Thus, ICT focuses specifically on the application of these new technologies in an educational context and environment, and serves as a tool for supporting the various components of education. Such components include, among others, teaching and learning, resources management (human, material, financial resources) and admission and examination processes also known as learning assessment. One specific form of ICT for assessment is the Computer-Based Testing (CBT), also known as Computer-Based Assessment or e-exam. It is a method of administering tests in which the responses are electronically recorded, assessed, or both. It is commonly available for several admissions tests throughout the developed countries (Wikipedia, 2012). This method of testing is important because it can measure different skills or sets of knowledge in order to provide new and better information about individuals" abilities. Colleges and universities receive CBT results more quickly than those from paper-based test, and they can make their admissions decisions more quickly. Individuals can take a CBT even with minimal or no previous computer experience; since; instructions provided in a basic computer tutorial before the test will provide the experience needed to take the test using a mouse. One may spend much ...
