Written confessions
Handwriting is a dying art. Diego had to pay the price for his sloppy pen.
– I had a very good feeling after the exam. I was therefore, mildly put, surprised when I got an E, says a frustrated Diego Alexander Salazar (22).
He asked for an explanation and got the following shocking message from the sensor: «This is an assignment where the writing is on the far edge of the legible. Sensor does not understand everything, but has based the rating on what he understands».
Everyone has heard the admonishments to write clearly on the exam. Legible font is our responsibility. But then you sit there and time is running out. Your clear, bold writing becomes mysterious hieroglyphs. If sensor is unable to interpret them, your exam grade is hanging by a thread. It could end with failing.
Wants digitization
How much does your handwriting matter for your grade? Sensor Tarald Laudal Berge at the University of Oslo (UiO) believes it is essential.
– When you correct exam number 89 of 125, and get 25 pages of extremely messy handwriting in front of you, then it is clear that you are frustrated, says Berge, research fellow at the Institute of Political Science.
He believes handwritten exams can lead to discrimination between those who have good handwriting and those who have not.
– It is unreasonable to expect students to write longer texts by hand, when the vast majority use computers to take notes and term papers. Especially when it is often the case that the only grade set is what is handwritten, elaborates Berge.
According to Berge, his institute has both the software needed and digital exam has been tested with great success. He hopes the computers will make their entry as soon as possible. – It will make the job much easier for both the examiner and the student, he says.
Sensors say that it is an issue that students write uglier and more unreadable than before Ragnhild Hennum, pro-rector at the University
No digitization in sight
The management at the University is aware of the problems handwritten exam creates.
– Sensors says that there is a problem that students write uglier and more unreadable than before, presumably because they are not used to writing by hand, writes Ragnhild Hennum, pro-rector at the University, in an e-mail to Universitas.
She admits that there have been several cases where students at UiO have been granted PC during exams because of illegible handwriting. She reminds that in the candidate instructions for the examination, it is written that the candidate is responsible for the text being readable.
In spite of such problems, and positive feedback from those who have introduced digital exams, the University has no plans of a digitized university any time soon.
It is unreasonable to expect students to write longer texts by hand Kintaro Laudal Berge, research fellow at the University
– We have no plans to digitize for the sake of digitization, but we do so wherever appropriate. It is up to the faculties to report the subjects they want to have digitized, writes Hennum.
Legal Sciences at UiO have already introduced digital exam on all their exams. Dean of studies, Erling Johan Hjelmeng, says they are satisfied and he thinks examinations and assessments have been easier for all concerned.
Not better grades
Most students Universitas has talked to support the introduction of digital examination, but not all. Psychology Student Noora Bellemkhannate (20) says she prefers examination by hand. – I mean you get to show off how clearly you are thinking when writing by hand. Your academic style
shows better, believes Bellemkhannate. She is afraid the requirement for content will be even higher than it already is, if you go from writing by hand to writing on a computer.
Figures from the Faculty of Law Universitas have gained access to show that the grades have not improved with computer written exams. It may be a consolation for all those who still have to write by hand.
– It might seem that the sensors are more stringent now that they finally understand what students write and so neutralize the statistics, says Hjelmeng.
Meanwhile, Diego awaits responses from a new assessment. He was not aware that it was possible to apply to use the computer.
– Next time I have an exam I will definitely apply to using a computer. It is really sucks when your grade is based on your handwriting, and not the content itself, he says.
Students opinion
1. Do you write by hand in your student life?
2. How would you characterize your handwriting?
3. Do you prefer digital or written exam?
Jennifer Noblet (19) Criminology
– I write on a computer when I take notes. I write faster on a computer than I do by hand.
– In high school, I wrote an exam once that the teacher did not understand half. I had to read what I had written. I prefer digital exams.
– Examination at criminology is electronic, that’s good.
Olaf Faller (24) Exfac
– I write by hand in lecture.
– I write quite illegibly. I try to write clearly on the exam, but I think it can affect the grade if you write unreadable.
– I would rather have digital exams. It is easier to structure your answer. It is quite strange that it is not implemented yet, we had electronic exams in high school.
Sigrid Strand Stiberg (20) Musicology
– I write by hand in my academic life.
– My writing is decent, but I think the readability has something to say for the exam grade.
– Digital exam is clearly preferable. My hand gets tired when I write, and I have experienced that I have been unable to write as much as I want. I hope digital exams are introduced soon.
Julia Natasza Gundersen (24) Materials, energy and nanotechnology
– I write both on pc and by hand. I study natural science and many assignments are done by hand.
– I've never been satisfied with my handwriting, but it is legible. I think it has very much to say for the grade.
– I prefer to write on a computer. It is tiresome to write by hand. It depends on the subject, but it's weird to have a computer science exam where we need to write programmes (coding) by hand.
