Just when I thought I had it all planned out…
I’m not sure what ExamSoft is, but I’m guessing it has something to do with exams. I just thought I’d mention that we don’t currently have any finals done on computers. The great majority of people go pen and paper, while there is an option for others to go to a ‘typing room’ (so as to not click into insanity the non-typers), but in said room there are no laptops allowed, just typewriters and word processors without memory.I have no idea what they may be implementing in the future, or even if 2nd and 3rd year courses operate differently, but from what I know, no comps for finals. So, if that effects your decision in any way, I thought I should let you know.
–Matt, IU Law School Student
Alright, I feel somewhat bad about this, but this has got me seriously reconsidering my applications. In this day and age, why on earth would a Top 100 law school not allow the exams to be taking by PC? I mean… wow. These exams (from what I’ve heard) are long, tedious, and can be complicated. Style counts. Why would one voluntarily choose to spend 4, 5, 6 hours HANDWRITING when one could be typing? Sure, typing is faster… but just think about the editing! Copy and paste on a pen/paper exam requires SCISSORS.
Maybe some of my law-school-readers, Matt, Evan, or their readers can provide perspective.
Is this just one of those things that I should just ignore and deal with when I get there, or is this a reason to maybe send a few more applications and reconsider?
He did say that people could use “word processors without memory.” I assume that means a locked-down PC running Word (or the like).
Oh yeah: now you can reconsider your decision about Macs
I assume that by “word processors without memory” he meant the typewriter-like machine that has a few lines of display but is not actually a PC. Like these.
And no, I still can’t get a mac… because if they decide to get with the program and use something like ExamSoft, I’ll be screwed again.
I’m really surprised IU doesn’t use Examsoft. I have heard of there being problems with that program, but I was under the understanding schools were trying to find/develop other electronic options.
All of my exams were taken pen/paper here at SLU. I have to admit that I was really concerned going into them about this, but it ended up not being as big of a deal as I’d expected. We are working toward finding a viable option, but the school is concerned about giving people the advantage of typing faster when not everybody has a computer to use. Any further questions, just ask and I’ll give you my thoughts.
I’ve read that Georgetown just recently switched to not using any exam software at all — you do your exam on your laptop without any inhibitions and turn it in via email (or something like that). The report I read stated that compliance with rules actually WENT UP after that.
As far as fairness: I’m not buying it. For starters, financial aid should cover a laptop… secondly it wouldn’t be hard to set up a lab on ExamSoft and let students who couldn’t afford their own to work in there. Heck, you wouldn’t even really need exam soft for that…
Hi.
Word processors without memory means literally just that. A word processor with no memory functions - a glorified typewriter. The idea is to give no advantage to typers over writers, but to still allow peole who have bad hand-writing, or just type faser, to use whatever suits them.
Honestly, I prefer handwriting to typing.
And, for the record, during all of my exams but one, I would have had zero time to engage in any type of meaningful editing. I had an average of only 10 or 15 minutes left before the end of the exam. So maybe I could have checked some grammar or what have you, I could not have made major presentational adjustments.
Also, you must consider that everyone is on the same playing field in this regard (for a given class). What the prof is looking for is insight and knowledge, not beauty or layout.
I personally wouldn’t change a thing about the exam system here, but obviously other people have their preferances.
Let me make one quick retraction. Layout is important to the degree it demonstrates your ability to “lay out” the problem and organize it in a logical fashion. What I meant is that the message is more important than the medium.
Let me also throw in that, for all I know, we may be implementing some kind of laptop exam policy in the future - but I haven’t heard anything about it. So you may want to check on that.
Blah, blah, blah… “fairness” etc… “level playing field” etc… except that it’s not. You’re never going to level that playing field.
Some people type better than they write, some write better than they type. Some people write slower than they type and even their typing is slow. What’s “fair”?
Personally, I find it annoying to have to spend 45 minutes writing, let alone hours upon hours. Let me type, however, and it’s another story.
It’s interesting… the people who never used laptops that I’ve spoke to say it’s “no big deal”… but the people who have used laptops say they can never imagine NOT using one for an exam.
Difference being, of course, that if the school ALLOWS laptops, you can still choose to handwrite if you want.
If you’re just concerned about not wanting to hand write so much, I think the word processor option should be OK. As far as I know the school provides plenty to go around for exams.
I believe that my old roomie Connie (formerly at USC Law and now at Columbia Law) took her exams on her laptop. I can put you in touch with her if you feel the need for more back.
Examsoft is great. I don’t know why every school doesn’t use it. I guess it might have to do with the computer people that are needed, but I would expect most law libraries would have computer people anyway.
Apply to Georgia, we get to use computers, and examsoft lets you use a floppy disk or submit your exams via email.
Plus Athens is more fun than anywhere else.