Harwood, Ian (2005) When summative computer-aided assessments go wrong: disaster recovery after a major failure. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36 (4), 587-597. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00484.x).
Abstract
This case study outlines the events of a recent summative computer-aided assessment (CAA) failure involving 280 first-year undergraduate students. Post-test analysis found that the central server had become unexpectedly overloaded, thereby causing the CAA to be abandoned. Practical advice on just what to do in the event of a summative CAA failure is virtually non-existent in the related literature.
In response, this paper provides a detailed account of the post-failure analysis and recovery activities from a practitioner’s (ie, academic) viewpoint. Supported by empirical evidence, the research shows how the concept of "optional substitution" was developed as a pragmatic, equitable and broadly acceptable solution to the problem.
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