Should the Uni invest in computers available to all students?
Should our University invest in computers that are available for all students?
As the role of computers in academic contexts is becoming more and more important nowadays there is a discussion if universities should invest in technology which allows students to take exams on a computer. The aim of this essay is to assess the advantages and disadvantages of such a proposal. For the purposes of this essay the task only appraises the potential situation at the University X and will focus on investments in tower computers. This essay will first describe the current role of exams taken on computers at the University of X. It will then go on to consider both the merits and drawbacks of computer written exams before finally concluding on a possible solution.
Computers are omnipresent in universities: Lecturers hold tutorials online or make their lecture notes accessible online. There are even exams that students can take at home during the exam week. This makes it easy for students to work in groups and cheat. This is not what the lecturers intend with these exams. The investment in technology would make it even possible to make it mandatory to take the exam on computers at the university.
There are undoubted advantages to this proposal. Exams taken on computer are much easier to correct. In typed exams illegible handwritings are no longer a problem. Computer programs that correct multiple choice tests or that spellcheck shorten the time the lecturer has to spend on the correction. The saved time can be spent on different activities such as the preparation of other lectures. Moreover, exams taken on computer need less space when stored. They can be saved not only on hard drives but also in clouds. In this way time and space can be saved.
Yet the drawbacks need to be considered as well. The expenses do not stop after buying the technology. Maintenance costs and a rising electricity bill add to the running costs of the university. Furthermore, the necessity of an
As the role of computers in academic contexts is becoming more and more important nowadays there is a discussion if universities should invest in technology which allows students to take exams on a computer. The aim of this essay is to assess the advantages and disadvantages of such a proposal. For the purposes of this essay the task only appraises the potential situation at the University X and will focus on investments in tower computers. This essay will first describe the current role of exams taken on computers at the University of X. It will then go on to consider both the merits and drawbacks of computer written exams before finally concluding on a possible solution.
Computers are omnipresent in universities: Lecturers hold tutorials online or make their lecture notes accessible online. There are even exams that students can take at home during the exam week. This makes it easy for students to work in groups and cheat. This is not what the lecturers intend with these exams. The investment in technology would make it even possible to make it mandatory to take the exam on computers at the university.
There are undoubted advantages to this proposal. Exams taken on computer are much easier to correct. In typed exams illegible handwritings are no longer a problem. Computer programs that correct multiple choice tests or that spellcheck shorten the time the lecturer has to spend on the correction. The saved time can be spent on different activities such as the preparation of other lectures. Moreover, exams taken on computer need less space when stored. They can be saved not only on hard drives but also in clouds. In this way time and space can be saved.
Yet the drawbacks need to be considered as well. The expenses do not stop after buying the technology. Maintenance costs and a rising electricity bill add to the running costs of the university. Furthermore, the necessity of an