berkeley law doesn't use examsoft - it uses microsoft word. hastings is jealous.

[justin gosling]

Many law schools require that students use a secure exam-taking program, such as Examsoft's SofTest.  But I can't shake the feeling that there is a better solution.

At first, I just accepted Examsoft as the one and only solution because, well, that's what my school told me to download. But recently UC Hastings sent out an email seeking feedback on Examsoft because they wanted to gauge student interest in the possibility of using a different program for test-taking. I've had a few issues with Examsoft, so I am open to the idea of other programs.  But get this: when I talked to a a friend at Berkeley Law, I found out that they used a Microsoft Word for their exams.

What gives? While I experienced technical difficulties, they saved a document to their desktop and then emailed it out. I couldn't believe it.

So, does the benefit of being "secure" outweigh technical headaches and trust issues?

As a standalone program, Examsoft isn't all that bad. While it lacks modern technologies such as inline spell checking and a spiffy user interface, it gets the job done. You write some stuff, it's recorded, and then uploaded to a magic computer far, far away. That said, I did run into a few issues this spring when two of my exams did not properly upload. I consider myself computer savvy and don't usually bother the IT department, but after the first exam I was 15th in the line waiting for tech support. After spending 3 hours writing everything possible, you're pretty drained and don't feel like hanging out waiting for IT. Aside from these inconveniences, Examsoft works (for the most part).  It could use a nicer user interface and a more reliable upload function.

The bigger issues for me is that I don't think we need a secure program to police students. I can only assume the administration is trying to curb cheating, but isn't that why we have an honor code and the threat of expulsion?

Maybe they just want to remove temptation, but roaming proctors and other students should be enough of a deterrent. Using a mainstream text editor that almost everyone is comfortable with would probably put a lot of students at ease and eliminate technical issues; using text editors and emailing files is pretty routine for most of us.

Even more mind boggling: some professors at Berkeley even permit you to use a digital version of your outline... with search capabilities!

Following in Berkeley Law's footsteps would show faith in the student body and be a positive step for any law school. It's not that you need to rethink your exam program, you need to rethink how you approach exams.

Completely unrelated quote of the day: I came across a job posting (for an alum) that concluded with "Weak of heart need not apply. Must have car." Oh man.

Comments

[Abony Holmes]

We upload our exams to an online exam interface, no emailing to the professor (it keeps up the anonymity). Also, our proctors leave the room after time is started and don't return until we have 10 minutes left. I think this is probably one of the coolest things about Berkeley, the amount of trust involved makes me feel like an adult...a trusted adult. I'd encourage every student at every school with an honor code (and that would be all of them) to campaign for similar exam taking procedures. It really makes life less stressful to know that my exam taking process will look exactly like my note taking process.

[Brian]

Yeah, the worst part of Examsoft, for me, is its lack of inline spell-checking. I haven't had any technical difficulties with the program, but after using Word all semester (or, all my life...), which automatically corrects all of my stupid little typos and spelling mistakes and underlines the rest, it is a real pain to have to spend the last minute or two of precious exam time using Examsoft's clunky spell-checker to convert all of the "hte"s to "the"s and correct any other ridiculous mistakes I made during 3 hrs of frantic typing.

Plus, you're right, who better than hyper-competitive law students, graded on a strict curve, to sniff out cheaters and bust them. Honor code, proctors, and students should be plenty.

[Sallie Mae]

Blah blah blah...

just like a law student to whine about nothing...

[viagra online]

So before leaving or going to bed, just take the 30 extra seconds to lock away anything special and you will eliminate the opportunity for someone to just reach in and pick up a camera, etc.. Then you may fully enjoy the openess of our style of living which often includes no vista-obstructing windows.

[eDiscovery]

I want to take this moment to say that I really love this blog. It has been a good resource of information for me. Thank you so much admin.

[Pretreatment]

you're right, who better than hyper-competitive law students, graded on a strict curve, to sniff out cheaters and bust them. Honor code, proctors, and students should be plenty