Man Meet | Contributing Writer
Assessment is an integral part of the process of determining if students have acquired knowledge and skills. But with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tools like ChatGPT, universities are facing new challenges. Students are now able to write essays, reports, and obtain answers in seconds, and an examiner finds it difficult to determine whether the work was written by the student or not.
An effective way of dealing with this issue is by using oral examinations (viva voice assessments). The students present their concepts orally and respond directly to the examiner. This will enable teachers to assess the student’s ‘how’ as well as the student’s ‘what’. Oral assessments are deemed to be authentic assessment methods since they require students to show evidence of their actual knowledge as opposed to merely recalling what they have learned.
Advantages of Oral Examinations:
One of the benefits of oral exams is that they more clearly assess students’ genuine knowledge. It can be challenging to determine if students created written content using AI tools or sought outside help when they are required to complete assignments. In the oral examination, the students are able to explain, justify, and answer follow-up questions. This allows the teacher to know if students have an understanding of the subject matter or not.
The other advantage is better communication and critical thinking skills. People have to give explanations, share ideas, present solutions, and justify decisions in the workplace. Oral exams build students’ confidence and effective communication of knowledge.
Oral exams also promote more in-depth learning. Students will be more likely to focus on the concepts in their study as opposed to memorising information since they need to explain and apply their knowledge. Besides, immediate feedback can be given to teachers, and students can know their weaknesses and enhance the learning process.
Disadvantages of Oral Examinations:
Although oral exams are useful, there are certain drawbacks. They can create anxiety among students. Or students can have good knowledge, but may have difficulties expressing themselves verbally, and this can impact their performance.
Time requirement is also another issue. Written examinations save a lot of time because many students can be assessed at the same time. On the other hand, oral exams are more time-consuming, requiring the individual examination of each student. This may be challenging in large groups.
Another issue that might arise is fairness, as different examiners can ask different questions or assess answers differently. The answer to this is for institutions to have a set of assessment criteria, a set of questions, and examiner training.
Preventing Cheating Through Oral Examinations in the AI Era
Academic cheating has transformed with the advent of AI. AI tools can assist in learning, but they can also be used incorrectly to write assignments on behalf of students. This can be minimised by oral exams, as students have to show their understanding as it happens.
A good technique is follow-up questions and application questions. Examiners may ask students to explain why they think something is a definition rather than asking students to repeat definitions; they may also ask a student to give an example or apply concepts to new contexts. If a student knows the subject matter, it will be easy for the student to respond naturally, but if they rely primarily on the AI-generated responses, it will be difficult for them to respond.
One way is to have some written work with short oral presentations. Students can present and explain their work, enabling the teacher to verify work and understanding. Oral examinations maintain academic integrity by requiring students to explain their thoughts in real time using their own words.
It is also important for educational institutions to educate students about responsible AI use. The use of AI should not be seen as a substitute for independent thought. Having clear policies regarding the use of AI and what is acceptable and what is not can help students uphold academic integrity.
In an age where AI is becoming more prevalent in academics, oral exams are a valuable way to ensure academic honesty. They enable teachers to assess what students understand, how they reason, and communicate. There are a few problems that can be solved, such as anxiety, time demands, and assessment methods, but these can be overcome with treatment and care and by using a consistent process of assessment.
Oral exams should not be a substitute for written exams, but rather used in conjunction with other assessment tools, such as practical activities and policies on responsible AI. This well-rounded approach to learning, one that is balanced, can ensure that students have the opportunity to gain authentic knowledge and the skills needed to be successful in their future academic and career endeavours.
DISCLAIMER:
The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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