New Testing Method in Era of Online Learning

In research published today in Science of Learning, engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute demonstrate how a testing strategy they call “distanced online testing” can effectively reduce students’ ability to receive help from one another in order to score higher on a test taken at individual homes during social distancing.

“Often in remote online exams, students can talk over the phone or internet to discuss answers,” said Ge Wang, a chair professor of biomedical engineering at Rensselaer and the corresponding author on this paper. “The key idea of our method is to minimize this chance via discrete optimization (离散优化) aided by knowledge of a student’s competencies.”

When a distanced online test is performed, students receive the same questions, but at varying times depending on their skill level. For instance, students of highest mastery levels receive each question after other groups of students have already answered those questions. This approach, Wang said, reduces the motivator for students to receive help from those who have more mastery of the material. In order to determine the order of each student’s questions, their competence levels are estimated using their grade point averages, SAT scores, or midterm scores, depending on what is available at a specific point in the semester.

According to statistical tests and post-exam surveys, this method reduced the points gained through cheating by orders of magnitude (数量级) when compared to conventional exam methods. As an added benefit, Wang said, when students knew collusion would not be possible, they were more motivated to study class material. Wang and his colleagues hope to share this innovation of teaching methods and theory beyond the Rensselaer campus.

“We plan to develop a good platform so that others can easily use this method,” said Wang, a member of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies at Rensselaer.

参考范文：

To reduce cheating in remote online tests, distanced online testing is introduced in today’s Science of Learning. It minimizes online cheating through discrete optimization based on students’ abilities. Namely, students at various levels get the same paper, but at different times. It reduced cheating and encouraged learning, so researchers expect to build a platform to share it.

本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了 “远程在线测试” 的测试策略，它是基于学生能力的基础上通过离散优化的方法最小化网络作弊。不同层次的学生拿到的是相同的试卷，但时间不同，它减少了作弊，鼓励学习，研究人员希望建立一个平台来分享使用这种方法。

(详解)

1. 要点摘录

①In research published today in Science of Learning, engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute demonstrate how a testing strategy they call “distanced online testing” can effectively reduce students’ ability to receive help from one another in order to score higher on a test taken at individual homes during social distancing.

②Often in remote online exams, students can talk over the phone or internet to discuss answers。

③The key idea of our method is to minimize this chance via discrete optimization (离散优化) aided by knowledge of a student’s competencies.

④When a distanced online test is performed, students receive the same questions, but at varying times depending on their skill level.

⑤According to statistical tests and post-exam surveys, this method reduced the points gained through cheating by orders of magnitude (数量级) when compared to conventional exam methods.

⑥when students knew collusion would not be possible, they were more motivated to study class material.

⑦Wang and his colleagues hope to share this innovation of teaching methods and theory beyond the Rensselaer campus.

2. 缜密构思

将第①、②两个要点进行重组；将第③、④两个要点进行压缩；将第⑤、⑥、⑦三个要点进行整合。

3. 遣词造句

To reduce cheating in remote online tests, distanced online testing is introduced in today’s Science of Learning.

It minimizes online cheating through discrete optimization based on students’ abilities.

Students at various levels get the same paper, but at different times.

It reduced cheating and encouraged learning, so researchers expect to build a platform to share it.

(点睛)

(高分句型1) “To reduce cheating in remote online tests, distanced online testing is introduced in today’s Science of Learning.” (运用了不定式作目的状语并对原文第一段和第二段第一句进行了概括。其中不定式作目的状语表达高级。)

(高分句型2) “It minimizes online cheating through discrete optimization based on students’ abilities.” (用过去分词短语作后置定语对第二段第二句进行了概括，表达非常高级。)