Students would be able to consult the material, which are structured to test their understanding of concepts rather than merely the ability to memorise facts and figures.  (Pic: File Photo)
Students would be able to consult the material, which are structured to test their understanding of concepts rather than merely the ability to memorise facts and figures. (Pic: File Photo)

How Google can take open book exams to the next level

If reference material is allowed into exam halls, can Google, accessible through handy laptops, smartphones and tablets, be far behind?

Don’t worry too much if you don’t pass exams, so long as you feel you have understood the subject. It’s amazing what you can get by the ability to reason things out by conventional methods, getting down to the basics of what is happening — Godfrey Hounsfield (1919 – 2004) was an English electrical engineer who shared the 1979 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for his part in developing the diagnostic technique of X-ray computed tomography 

It was easy for Godfrey to pontificate from his high Nobel perch to discount the outcomes of academic examinations. But when one goes for admission for higher degrees or to secure coveted jobs, high marks count decidedly. So, the quest for examinations with minimum chances of copying. In this quest, the latest moves include minimum clothing while getting into the exam centre — like singlets and Bermuda half-pants for boys and nothing else. A similar outfit is prescribed for girls. There is fear that this can ultimately lead to exam halls turning into nudist colonies, separate for boys and girls first, and could be together later. Now, there is also a reverse movement, in the form of ‘open book exams’, which could ultimately lead to Google-aided exams. But first, the facts as reported in the media (23/11/18).


 For the uninitiated, open book exams allow the examinees to take notes, texts or resource materials into an exam hall. They test their ability to find and apply information and knowledge, so are often used in subjects requiring a direct reference to written materials, like law statutes, statistics or acts of parliament.
 In an attempt to discourage rote learning and to test the analytical abilities of students, a four-member committee on exam reform has recommended an ‘open book examination’ for engineering courses. The panel, which was formed in January 2018, has submitted its report on the examination and other recommendations to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the apex regulator of technical education.

According to a senior official, the report is being examined by the AICTE and the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry following which a decision on its implementation will be taken. The recommendation, if accepted, will be applicable to engineering and technical institutes regulated by the AICTE.

Open book exams as envisaged above would allow students to take notes, textbook and resource materials into an exam hall. Students would be able to consult the material when answering questions, which are structured to test their understanding of concepts rather than merely the ability to memorise facts and figures.

Experts welcomed the move but cautioned that such reforms need to be implemented with care. “Exam reforms cannot be done in isolation; it has to go with teaching reforms,” said Pradipta Banerji, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay. “Unless we do that we cannot achieve much...”

If reference material is allowed into exam halls, can Google, accessible through handy laptops, smartphones and tablets, be far behind?

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