CHRIS SEGAL
News Editor
Forget walking uphill in the snow; back in my day we actually had to memorize names and dates for tests. The Wall Street Journal published an article Jan. 21 highlighting how some high schools are now allowing students to use the Internet while taking tests.
This begs the questions: Is education about general knowledge or critical thinking skills? If the job of educators is to teach general knowledge of world history, literature, science and math the old way of testing makes sense. Students are presented with the information and then tested on if they engaged the material.
The argument for allowing students to text message, browse the Internet and Google test questions is to make students use the resources available and to develop their ability to use them critically. Some educators believe that real world strengths of “intelligent surfing and analysis” are just as important as rote memorization.
One teacher said the new way of testing doesn’t look for a correct answer but if students can find the answer.
Sure, Wikipedia is an easy resource for Pepperdine students to use when looking up terms and trivia, but everything online is not true. Anyone can post information on Wikipedia. Students need to be taught how to critically look at information online and how to properly conduct research.
This is a twist on open-book exams and the calculator. When the calculator was first introduced in the 1970s they were banned from classroom and the SATs, both of which now encourage use of the machine. The students who are using the Internet for tests may be receiving better test scores but with standardized testing such as the SATs still being a hurdle to overcome before getting into college.
Open-book tests and group tests enhance student’s critical thinking ability and group work more than regurgitation of facts. These skills are more useful in the work force than being able to name all the presidents in order.
I’m amazed at how many Pepperdine students don’t really know how to use all the resources available to them. If you want to talk to a student who lives on campus or a professor all you have to do is pick up a campus phone and dial 0. Every Pepperdine student has access to peer’s e-mail addresses through PepXpress and Blackboard.
Recently, a reporter failed to return my call. The excuse was that he couldn’t find my number. Editors have to be the easiest people to find on campus-pick up a phone or send an e-mail to the address that appears right below this column.
This shift to technology is part of the academic shift that has been making students responsible for knowing a little about a broad range of topics versus knowing a few things in depth.
High schools as well as Pepperdine should be teaching students how to use the Internet but not at the expense of their education. Looking up the answers is easy, but it wouldn’t get them very far in college. Using a laptop to answer test questions is not the same thing as using a calculator for a math test.
02-02-2006