Metaphorical Perceptions of Online Exams in Open and Distance Learning

This study investigates metaphorical perceptions of online learning communities within a large-scale open education system, focusing on their experiences with online examinations. The data were collected between January 1 and February 14, 2024, using a structured questionnaire created on Google Forms from 392 participants, yielding 330 valid metaphors for analysis. The questionnaire had two sections: the first gathered demographic information, and the second focused on participants’ perceptions of online student communities within the Open Education System. Participants were asked to complete the sentence: Student communities are similar to …; because …, and the valid metaphors derived from their responses formed the main data source of the study. The metaphors revealed a dichotomy: 71.8% were positive, emphasizing convenience, flexibility, and reduced stress, with terms like "map," "mirror," and "vitamin" reflecting exams as tools for self-assessment and growth. Conversely, 28.2% were negative, dominated by concerns about cheating and technical difficulties, with metaphors like "ready meal" and "theft of labour" highlighting doubts about fairness. Notably, one linguistically engaged community produced the most metaphors, indicating varied engagement across groups. The findings depict a student body that values online exams for accessibility and personal development but is anxious about their fairness and reliability.