The head of a major exam board has been
criticised for suggesting in a Telegraph
interview that pupils should be allowed to use
Google when sitting some GCSE and A-level
tests.
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Mark Dawe, the OCR exam board chief
executive, said introducing tools like Google or
calculators will help teachers assess the way
students draw on information and apply it to
their learning.
He said everyone has Google available to them
and students will only have a limited amount of
time to conduct online searches anyway.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Mr Dawe said:
“Everyone has a computer available to solve a
problem but it’s then about how they interpret
the results. We have tools, like Google, why
would you exclude those from students’
learning?
“Surely when they learn in the classroom,
everyone uses Google if there is a question. It
is more about understanding what results
you’re seeing rather than keeping all of that
knowledge in your head because that’s not how
the modern world works.”
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He compared the idea of introducing Google to
examinations to the old-age debate about
whether to have books available during a test.
He said: “In reality you didn’t have too much
time [to consult the book] and you had to learn
it anyway.”
Lower standards
But Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign
for Real Education, said the idea would lead to
a "dumbing down of standards".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's
a nonsense.
"We have a crisis in standards in this country.
We are three years behind the Chinese at the
age of 15, we have got universities running
remedial courses.
"We have got employers saying too many
youngsters are unemployable.
"And here we have the OCR board saying 'let's
dumb things down'.
"You can have an exam on how to use Google,
but that is not the same as having a history or
geography exam.
"Exams should be about knowledge and
understanding. It includes knowledge, therefore
we do have to test what children are carrying
the in their heads."
Despite his enthusiasm about the introduction
of technology during examinations, he said this
reality was at least a decade away in the UK.
He added: “It is important that parents and
teachers understand and believe this is fair.
The government would need to ensure they
have the right regulation to ensure the quality
of standards are maintained.”
This isn't the first time it has been suggested
Google is used during exams. Last year a
Harvard physics professor said schoolchildren
must be allowed to have access to the internet.
Some corners of social media welcomed the
idea.
@iKrips @JaviereTMG Great idea.
— Rab Paterson (@rabpaterson) April 30,
2015
Quite. The way we're examined and the
way we work are drifting further and further
apart, it needs to change. https:///
DVyKZFpLPL
— Will (@Popher) April 30, 2015
However, not everyone was that enthusiastic
about welcoming the internet to the
examination process.
@TelegraphNews @JaviereTMG ridiculous
idea. We all need to learn and retain and
deliver informed decisions, not just repeat
and rewrite
— Giles Houston (@gileshouston) April 30,
2015

...

Mr exam_chief ...i support your motion