The internet is revolutionizing the way students learn. But just how revolutionary is it?
Web sites such as Koofers, Cramster and Course Hero are changing the way students prepare for class and tests. By signing up for the services provided at Web sites and other like them, students can access flash cards for different courses, rate their professors and (gasp) look at past exams.
Obviously many students may find this beneficial, especially the day before the big midterm that’s worth 325% of their grades. But what does this mean for traditional means of learning? Does putting the exams on a website for everyone to freely access undermine the purpose of testing in the first place?
Well, let’s look at the pros:
- Students all over the United States become better connected through common study and there’s something to be said for free exchange of information.
- Students become more proactive in how they learn.
- Websites like these force professors who recycle their quizzes and exams to become more creative and update every so often.
Now let’s look at the cons:
- Everyone is allowed to contribute to these websites; much like Wikipedia, you never know whether you’ve got the right answer.
- There’s a higher chance of cheating and plagiarism.
- It might be undermining the whole purpose of examination in the first place; one could argue that students don’t really learn anything; they’re simply memorizing and regurgitating.
These resources generally cater to the needs of math and science students with courses that are less subjective and more concrete. Nevertheless, it’s changing the face of collegiate learning.
