Proposal to Allow Google to Think for Students

December 5, 2014

What a brilliant idea? With search traffic waffling around in mobile no man’s land, a Harvard professor has an idea that will tickle Google’s ad sales teams. “Allow Pupils to Use Google in GCSE Exams, Says Academic” is a fine idea. The article reports:

Teenagers should have access to the internet and discuss questions with friends during exams because GCSEs and A-levels are setting pupils up to “fail at life”, according to a leading academic.

Yes, and the assumption is that Google is without error. That is a fine assumption.

How long will it be before the professor realizes that armed with a phone or tablet, the student will be able to buy real time assistance with the exam? Or, what happens if the clever student discovers www.wolframalpha.com. I wouldn’t go to such extremes. I would just ask my friends via one of the many chat services what the answer should be.

I think the physics professor should look for a new career as an advisor to Google. Perhaps he could do an interview with that Google cheerleading outfit located in Boston?

Stephen E Arnold, December 5, 2014

Comments

One Response to “Proposal to Allow Google to Think for Students”

  1. Michael on December 16th, 2014 9:07 am

    Education today is knowing how to find the answer as much as it is learning and understanding it. Finding an answer doesn’t mean its the right one.

    I agree with allowing Google, or making exams open book, but change the questions and marking criteria to be more how the tester interpret the information.

    Why is oil a poor fuel vs. is oil a poor fuel, for example.

  • Archives

  • Recent Posts

  • Meta