At first glance, it seems absurd to even suggest that school pupils be allowed to access the internet during examinations. But that is the proposition made by a British academic at the World Education Summit in Dubai this week – and it deserves some serious consideration.
Dr Sugata Mitra, professor of education technology at Newcastle University, says the internet is not just a tool of learning but is a subject to be studied in itself. The internet “must permeate the education system”, he said.
Certainly it is true that the internet is ubiquitous. School children have never known a time when it did not exist, and it is an essential part of their lives. Almost every child has a smartphone, and many also have laptops, tablets and internet-connectible devices such as Fitbits and Apple Watches. It is used as a means of communication via social media and as a source of information. We use our devices to find our way around with GPS, to organise our lives, to buy products – and to find answers.
Using these functions in an exam situation might seem like cheating, until you realise that the internet has changed the way we learn and what we need to know. We no longer have to remember phone numbers, dates or even the title of the song playing on the radio – there are apps to do all that, and so much more. Given that, it’s mastery of the internet itself that has become a skill worth honing.
Allowing all pupils in an exam room to use the internet would level the playing field. Nobody has the answers to every question, but everybody has the means to find the answer – if they can use the internet properly. The person who can wade through the false information and blind alleys that proliferate online, discover authentic resources, then apply the knowledge gained in a practical manner is not only a good student, but also a good potential employee.
Using the internet critically is an essential talent that should be encouraged in all learning environments – including, in at least some circumstances, the exam room.