e-Assessment for Skill Acquisition in Online Engineering Education: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract This chapter presents a literature review of e-assessment in online higher education with a special focus on skill acquisition in engineering education. Skill acquisition is important in engineering education, especially skills involving practical problem solving to cater to the demands of a rapidly changing industry. Therefore, knowledge and understanding gained from learning materials alone is not enough without gaining the higher-order cognitive skills needed to solve practical problems. In this case, assessment can be used to evaluate whether students are capable of achieving the required skills as well as for continuously improving engineering education. This chapter first addresses the general aspects: assessment in the form of e-assessment; skill and knowledge assessment; supporting learning through formative e-assessment; standards, specifications and models to design and develop e-assessment systems that are interoperable and secure; previous research on skill acquisition in engineering education; and, as the focus point, the challenges and opportunities in skill acquisition in online engineering education.