New software allows students to type essays, inhibits cheating

Students in the James E. Rogers College of Law now have the option of taking essay-style exams on laptop computers.

Last semester was the first semester that the system was used at the College of Law, and it is being used again this semester.

Mohyeddin Abdulaziz, director of information technology, said the idea was slow to get off the ground because of fears that students could cheat on exams by saving information on their laptops.

Then, Abdulaziz heard about a software program called Examsoft that allows students to use their computers to write essays but prohibits the use of any other programs on the computer.

"I heard that other schools were using it and set up a pilot program here," he said. "A couple of teachers volunteered to test it."

He said a computer functions like an electric typewriter once Examsoft is installed and running. Students' answers are saved onto a floppy disk, which is then handed in. Their answers are printed onto paper and then graded along with the written tests.

"We have had a very successful experience with it," he said. "We've had a few glitches here and there, but it's been a quite successful experiment."

Carolyn Coolidge, support systems analyst for the College of Law, said that aside from a few frozen computers, no student had to retake an exam due to computer problems.

After the pilot program was completed, there were faculty and student discussions as to whether the program should stay and become standard policy.

"There were people against it and people for it," he said. "A major concern of ours is that students have equal opportunity. There hasn't been one student who wanted to use a computer (who) couldn't."

Abdulaziz said a lab has been set up with 25 computers for those students who do not have a laptop.

Students who choose to use a laptop and those who prefer the conventional method are separated during tests so the computers don't distract the other students.

Abdulaziz said that the printed copies are easier for instructors to read than some handwritten exams and that studies have been done to monitor if students who type their tests have gotten better results. The studies have shown there is no significant difference of scores between the two styles.

"I think it's a great idea. It gives people with illegible hand writing a fair chance," said Laura Schoeller, a law student.

Schoeller said she hadn't yet taken an exam on a computer, but she applied to take her bar exam on the computer.

"It's very convenient. Law tests require a lot of writing," said Mike Hook, a law student. "To do well, you should write the whole time and some people can type faster than they can write."

Jane Korn, a law professor, said she used the computers last semester with no problem and would use them again in the future.

Abdulaziz said that although it's not mandatory for teachers to use the computers, all of them giving essay exams opted to use them.

He said he expects more students to use the computers this semester due to the success last semester.