All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has recommended that “open book examination” should be introduced for engineering examinations. It is one of the reforms that AICTE wants to bring, other reforms include mandatory internships for students and induction and training programmes for lecturers.
As per AICTE, the open book exam are beneficial because it will be less stressful for the students as it will demand a less of memory. The AICTE further stated that the traditional written exam promotes rote learning among the candidates and thus it is important to change the process.
The engineering colleges of Karnataka have welcommed these recommendations of AICTE. Right now these are recommendations. However, AICTE has not recommended that all the exams will be open school. It’s one method which can be used wherever necessary and possible. AICTE is suggesting that exams should be more about understanding the concept, analyzing the situation, synthesizing a problem and turn it into a solution.
What is an open book examination?
Open book examinations are where all the information needed to answer questions may be used by the examinee rather than relying on memory. It could be books or written material or available electronically. The ability to use the data obtained to develop arguments and solutions is what is tested rather than the ability to recall information.
“Open Book Examinations” is actually an American pattern of examination. M.K Panduranga Setty, the governing body member, RV College of Engineering has supported the recommendation saying that it will make the students visit the library more and read more from the approved source. In total, it will also urge the colleges to spend more on their library and digital lab resources.
AICTE has also added that open book examination for engineering will also add in the higher order of thinking rather than just recalling and jotting the same in the examination. “Open book examination or open resource examination is a good assessment tool to improve innovation and promote outcome-based education which is a requirement in today’s engineering education.” Says Nageswara Guptha, vice principal, Sri Venkateswara College Of Engineering, Bengaluru.
Other Important Recommendations by AICTE:
AICTE has also proposed to introduce a compulsory internship for engineering students. AICTE recommends 600-700 hours of internship for B.Tech/B.E. candidates and 450-500 hours of internship for diploma candidates. Credits will be given based on the internships done. Other than this, teachers’ training policy has been also recommended. According to this, technical teachers joining new jobs will have to take induction courses.
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