Interviews as Oral Exams

Oral exams and student interviews are highly effective assessment strategies in online courses. They provide opportunities for meaningful interaction, deeper learning, and authentic assessment of student understanding.

This guide outlines best practices to help faculty design, facilitate, and evaluate oral exams in ways that are efficient, equitable, and aligned with instructional goals.

Why use oral exams in an online course?

Oral exams offer several advantages in the online environment:

Promote Academic Integrity

Provide a direct way to assess individual student understanding
Reduce reliance on traditional, easily outsourced assessments
Allow for follow-up questions and clarification

Support Deeper Learning

Encourage critical thinking and real-time application of knowledge
Allow students to explain reasoning, not just provide answers
Create space for dialogue and reflection

Build Connection and Engagement

Strengthen instructor-student relationships
Increase student accountability and participation
Provide a more personalized learning experience

Align with Workforce and Transfer Skills

Develop communication, articulation, and professional skills
Mirror real-world practices such as interviews and presentations

Tips for scheduling

Planning and organization are key to making oral exams manageable.

General Scheduling Tips

Offer a range of dates and times to accommodate student schedules
- If you are teaching an asynchronous course, offer a variety of dates and times to ensure you are meeting your student's availability.
  - In the class notes, remember to identify students are required to meet with the instructor (i.e,, Students must schedule a face to face meeting with me the week of 5/4-5/10)
  - Provide the students with the schedule in advance.
    - Listing the dates in the course syllabus is recommended.
Keep sessions concise (e.g., 5–15 minutes per student)
Build in buffer time between appointments
Clearly communicate expectations, duration, and format
If students are unable to meet the scheduled times, it is recommended that an alternative date or assignment be agreed upon.
- Ex. Student may submit a video presentation covering the questions you would ask.

Using Canvas Calendar Appointment Groups

Canvas makes scheduling simple and transparent.

Steps to Set Up:

Open the Canvas Calendar
Click “+” (Add Event)
Select the “Appointment Group” tab
Name your appointment group (e.g., CHDV 105 Oral Exam – Week 8)
Identify the location
- This may include a room number or Zoom link
Select your course and date range
Divide time slots (e.g., 10-minute increments)
Choose how many students per slot (typically 1)
Include any details students may need to know
- This may include the instructions, the format, or the questions that will be asked
Publish and instruct students to sign up

Best Practices

Provide a backup plan for missed appointments
Send reminders via Canvas Announcements
Encourage students to test their technology in advance

💡 Tip: Include the meeting link (Zoom or Canvas Conferences) directly in the calendar event or course page.

Tips for Facilitating

A structured yet flexible approach helps both you and your students feel more comfortable.

Before the Exam

Share clear expectations and sample questions
Provide a rubric or grading criteria
Encourage students to prepare but not memorize responses
Remind students of technology requirements (camera, microphone, internet)

During the Exam

Begin with a brief welcome and overview
Ask open-ended questions that require explanation
Use follow-up prompts such as:
- “Can you explain your reasoning?”
- “Can you give an example?”
Keep timing consistent across students
Maintain a supportive, conversational tone

After the Exam

Thank the student and clarify next steps
Provide feedback (immediate or via Canvas)

💡 Tip: A calm, conversational approach helps reduce student anxiety and leads to more authentic responses.

Tips for Grading

Consistency and transparency are essential for fair evaluation.

Use a Rubric

Develop a rubric aligned with your course/student learning outcomes
Consider criteria such as:

Ensure Consistency

Ask comparable questions across students
Use notes or a scoring guide during each session
Record scores immediately after each exam

Provide Meaningful Feedback

Highlight strengths and areas for improvement
Keep feedback concise but actionable
Use Canvas SpeedGrader or comments for documentation

💡 Tip: Consider recording sessions (with student consent) for grading review or documentation purposes.

Tips for Class Notes

Keeping organized notes during oral exams supports grading accuracy and documentation.

Before the Exam

Prepare a note-taking template or rubric sheet
List key questions or prompts

During the Exam

Jot down:
- Key points from student responses
- Notable strengths or misconceptions
- Scores aligned to rubric criteria

After the Exam

Finalize scores and comments while the interaction is fresh
Upload notes or summary feedback to Canvas if appropriate

Documentation Considerations

Maintain records for grade justification if needed
Ensure notes are professional and objective

💡 Tip: Digital note-taking (e.g., a spreadsheet or rubric in Canvas) can streamline the process.

Additional Considerations

Accessibility

Offer flexible scheduling options when needed
Be prepared to provide accommodations in collaboration with DRC
Ensure all instructions are clear and accessible in Canvas

Equity and Inclusion

Be mindful of varying comfort levels with speaking
Provide practice opportunities or low-stakes options
Use clear, supportive language to reduce anxiety

Getting Started

If you’re new to oral exams, start with a small implementation:

Use oral exams for a single assignment or checkpoint
Pilot with a short, low-stakes interview
Gather student feedback and refine your approach

Oral exams are not just an alternative assessment; they are a powerful way to enhance learning, strengthen academic integrity, and build meaningful connections in the online classroom.