Asynchronous oral assessments:enhancing integrity, engagement, and communication in the AI era

Abstract

Abstract The shift to online and blended learning, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of generative AI tools, has intensified the search for valid and secure assessment methods. Oral assessments have long been recognized for their ability to authentically measure understanding, foster deeper engagement, and develop professional communication skills; however, logistical demands often limit their use. This paper reports findings from two studies investigating Asynchronous Oral Assessments (AOAs) delivered through a web-based platform and implemented alongside in-person, multiple-choice examinations. Study 1, conducted in an intermediate accounting course, explored associations between AOA participation and performance on multiple-choice exam items, revealing positive trends though not statistically significant. Study 2, conducted in a data analytics course, compared student performance across AOAs and in-person multiple-choice exams and found higher scores on AOAs, along with moderate correlations between formats. Survey results further indicated that students prepared differently for AOAs, reported greater use of active study strategies, and perceived the assessments as professionally relevant and cognitively engaging. Collectively, results suggest that AOAs represent an administratively scalable and pedagogically meaningful complement to traditional assessments.