The class lets out a sigh of relief followed by chatter. Students immediately conspire about who will take the test with who. Online tests. What could be better for a stressed out college student. Here are four reasons why students LOVE online tests.
1. Students can use other sources for answers
When you are taking a test online other features of your computer are accessible. You can have all sorts of notes available to you that you can click through instead of shuffle through. When you have notes printed or handwritten you can mix them up trying to find the answers to questions which would slow you down. Not only do you have your own notes you have the internet. If you cant find the answer in your notes don’t fret. GOOGLE IT!
2. Students collaborate on online tests
Of course the professor tells you do to do the test on your own but how would he ever know if you and a friend worked together? I mean two heads are better than one.
One can look through notes and the other can look up an answer online. How about that for a dynamic duo.
3. To college students online test is synonymous with no studying
Why the need to study when we have technology? You don’t even need to make a cheat sheet! All the answers you could ask for are at your fingertips on the internet. Studying would just be a waste of time and as a college student I know time is a valuable and limited resource.
Finally the most important reason most college students LOVE online tests…
4. Students expect an easy grade
With the internet as a resource and friends to take the test with, students expect a better grade. There seems to be no reason not to get a good grade. Today that’s what college kids care about. Three letters…GPA. Who cares if you understand something if you get an A. Mom will be proud.
Lets be serious not only is this easier for students it makes things easier for teachers too. Certain tests are graded automatically. All the professor does is make the test available online, program the answers one time and let technology take care of the rest.
All this is well and good but using technology for online testing does more bad than I does good. It takes away from the learning experience. The point of college is to learn not just to produce grades. I don’t pay 54,000 dollars a year to get A’s. Sure I like to get A's but I personally want an education. Although it is a relief when I get to take a test online I will admit I don’t learn anything and I don’t benefit from it. As nerdy as it sounds I do want to learn. We talked about grades in class the other night. They aren’t going to matter after our first job or two. Companies strive to hire intelligent employees not someone who faked their way through college to get a 4.0.
Not only that, taking tests with other people and using outside sources that aren’t permitted is against academic integrity. That’s something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It has severe punishments and people that have faced them know that its not something to mess around with. I know people who have had academic integrity issues and I can tell you they were not happy about it and regretted the actions they took.
Online testing isn't all that great. Aspire to become a smarter student as a whole, not just on paper.
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