On Business School and Exams
Why do college professors at business schools design exams in a way that encourages memorization instead of application? College is supposed to prepare us students for the real world, and many of the techniques used in classrooms today have remained unchanged despite the internet revolution that changed the world of education. With the current age of instant information (via Google, Wikipedia, etc.), there is no need for extensive memorization of facts. A working accounting professional can quickly and efficiently search an official online source if he or she has forgotten a certain rule or principle. However, the “newly designed” accounting and finance curriculum at Bentley University requires Freshmen and Sophomores to do exactly the opposite, opting for strict reading and memorization of the textbook, rewarding students who have superior memory skills rather than the skills that define successful professionals.
Luckily, there are some that have embraced this new way of learning; my statistics teacher, Professor Ortmeyer, nailed it on the head. Students are allowed to bring and use one sheet of notes and the class textbook while taking the exam. This enables the students to have a quick reference in case of a doubt to double-check a concept, rule, or equation. Students still have to sufficiently prepare for the exam beforehand, as they won’t have time during the assessment to read the textbook, learn and absorb the information, and then apply it to the problems.
Our academic IT department here at Bentley University pretends to be “cutting-edge” and “up-to-date” by administering multiple-choice exams via laptops. They shut down the internet in the classrooms, restricting access just to the test-taking website. Students are only allowed to have their browser open and cannot use any notes or resources. What is the point of taking an exam on the computer if you essentially dwindle down the machine to the same functionality of a pencil and paper? Why are they making it even easier for students to cheat behind a Professor’s back?
Dear Colleges and Universities: take a tip from my man Professor Ortmeyer and re-think what your objectives are as you design your lectures and exams to prepare your students for the real world.
