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