TL;DR:
- The use of oral exams (viva voce) as an educational assessment tool is gaining renewed attention with the rise of AI and chatbots.
- The viva voce has a long history dating back to ancient Greece and was widely used at universities such as the medieval University of Paris.
- The popularity of oral exams declined in the 1700s as universities shifted their focus to written assessments.
- Countries such as Norway continue to use the viva in their postgraduate programs, and high school students are required to sit in at least one oral exam.
- The viva offers a rich form of assessment that takes into account both content quality and answering skills and provides students with the opportunity to clarify and explain their work.
- The viva offers a level of authenticity that cannot be replicated by chatbots, eliminating concerns over cheating and plagiarism.
- As technology continues to advance and chatbots become increasingly prevalent, it may be time for universities to embrace the timeless tradition of oral exams.
- The viva voce may prove to be a valuable tool, offering a meaningful and memorable experience for both students and examiners alike.
Main AI News:
As technology continues to advance and AI and chatbots become increasingly prevalent, the use of oral exams as a form of educational assessment is gaining renewed attention. The viva voce, known in Latin as an oral assessment, has a long and rich history that dates back to ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago. Philosophers and experts in fields such as Muslim law and medicine embraced the tradition of oral defense, and it was widely used at universities such as the medieval University of Paris.
However, the popularity of oral exams declined in the 1700s as universities began to focus more on written assessments. Written exams were seen as more efficient, providing the opportunity for individual numerical grading, as opposed to the complicated system of oral exams.
Today, there are still countries and institutions that value the viva. Norway, for example, uses the viva in its postgraduate programs, and high school students are required to sit in at least one oral exam. Research and analysis of spoken and body language have shown that the viva offers a rich form of assessment that takes into account both content quality and answering skills while also providing students with the opportunity to clarify and explain their work.
Moreover, viva offers a level of authenticity that cannot be replicated by chatbots. Students are asked to verbally share their knowledge and skills, creating a conversation that cannot be mimicked by AI. This eliminates concerns over cheating and plagiarism, as students are unable to conceal information or mimic the work of others.
In conclusion, as technology continues to advance and chatbots become increasingly prevalent, it may be time for universities to embrace the timeless tradition of oral exams. The viva offers a rich form of assessment that takes into account both content quality and answering skills while also providing a level of authenticity and integrity that cannot be achieved through written assessments alone.
Perhaps it is time to shift the focus back to a more conversational form of assessment, one that values a student’s ability to articulate their knowledge and skills through spoken language. The viva voce may well prove to be a valuable tool in this regard, offering a meaningful and memorable experience for both students and examiners alike.
Conlcusion:
The renewed interest in oral exams as an educational assessment tool presents an opportunity for the education and academic market. With the rise of AI and chatbots, the use of the viva voce, a time-tested form of assessment, offers a level of authenticity and integrity that cannot be replicated by technology. The viva voce provides a rich form of assessment that takes into account both content quality and answering skills and offers students the opportunity to clarify and explain their work.
This presents a unique opportunity for universities and educational institutions to embrace the tradition of oral exams, offering a meaningful and memorable experience for both students and examiners. As such, the education and academic market may see an increased demand for the viva voce and the services that support its implementation.
