Towards Studying Student Behavior Through A Web-Based Assessment System

Scott Bonham, Assistant Professor of Physics, Western Kentucky University

Web-based assessment (homework) systems are becoming widely used in physics and other disciplines. In addition to relieving instructors of a grading burden, they contain a great deal of information about student work patterns and success in the logs of user activity. This is potentially valuable information that can provide insight in student progress difficulties and work habits that can guide instruction and learning. This presentation will present some examples of analyzing user activity logs in order to look at the effect of frequency of assignments and the (ineffective) use of bonus points to modify student behaviors.