Easily digestible tech news... http://www.techdirt.com/ en-us http://www.techdirt.com/images/td-88x31.gifhttp://www.techdirt.com/ Thu, 9 May 2013 17:00:00 PDT Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110226/12421713271/dailydirt-can-computers-grade-written-essays.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110226/12421713271/dailydirt-can-computers-grade-written-essays.shtml calls for automated grading software from various organizations (like the Hewlett Foundation). But at the same time, the National Council of Teachers of English argues that computers simply can't grade essays. Here are just a few more links on this debate over the use of algorithms over English professors (or grad students).

• EdX, the non-profit started by Harvard and MIT, is releasing some software to automagically grade human-written essays. Some see this software as just another tool for educators to use for more immediate feedback to students, while others are worried that these algorithms will be used incorrectly and lead to disastrous educational policies and outcomes. [url]
• There are studies that show algorithms are statistically comparable to humans when it comes to ranking essays on a 5 point scale. There are things machines can do better and things humans do better -- just make sure you know the differences and automated essay grading can be done productively in the right context. [url]
• Automated essay readers can grade 16,000 essays in 20 seconds. The Educational Testing Service is testing out automation, so students may soon be facing algorithmic grading for their college entrance exams. [url]
• Grading a few sentences can be harder than it might look. Professional (human) teachers are obviously better at interpreting the insights and ideas behind the words a student writes, but computers scale much better and never tire of horrible spelling mistakes or misplaced modifiers.... [url]

If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post via StumbleUpon.

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]]> urls-we-dig-up http://www.techdirt.com/comment_rss.php?sid=20110226/12421713271 Thu, 7 Mar 2013 17:00:00 PST Michael Ho http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101209/09010112204/dailydirt-making-grade.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20101209/09010112204/dailydirt-making-grade.shtml

Grading on a curve can backfire if all of your students scheme to get the same grade: a zero. Grading policies have adapted to account for this boundary condition, so students beware.... [url]

Some startups are collecting as much grading data as they can, in hopes of obtaining some of the millions of venture capital directed at the education sector. Now when teachers threaten that students' actions will go on a permanent record, they actually have a database that will back them up. [url]

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) need to watch out for massive cheating schemes. Test proctoring software is getting more sophisticated, but presumably some students are always trying new ways to cheat. [url]

If you'd like to read more awesome and interesting stuff, check out this unrelated (but not entirely random!) Techdirt post via StumbleUpon.

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