The Scandinavian country of Norway is experimenting with laptop examinations for secondary school students in a variety of disciplines. Using laptops, or computers in general, for test taking is nothing new, particularly in Norway, one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. But what is new is that a new system has been devised where students can actually take tests on their own personal laptop computers, not a school computer that is connected to a secure central server.
Allowing students to use their own laptops to take exams presents a series of challenges, not the least of which being how to secure that the student does not “cheat” by accessing information and text stored elsewhere on their own computer, or even going online to get help with problems.
The Norwegian system takes advantage of specially programmed CD ROMs, which essentially “take over” the user’s computer, completely bypassing the operating system (be it Windows, Mac or Linux), and allowing only specified files and content to be accessed for a designated period of time.
With one of the highest percentages of broadband Internet access in the world, and widespread 3G and 4G mobile Internet access, Norway has become something of a technological role model for other nations. The Norwegian government set very clear goals back in the 1990s to ensure that the country would be ready to meet the technological challenges of the information age.
That foresight is paying off now, with an estimated 96% of all Norwegian citizens having access to high speed Internet, and an estimated 4/5 of the country now covered by high-speed mobile Internet. Only the tiny island nation of Bermuda can boast a more “wired” high speed Internet society.
And when it comes to accessing online information for educational purposes, the Scandinavian nation is far ahead of most of its European and North American allies. Many schools have T1 high speed Internet connections and robust wireless networks, often even in small rural areas.
So switching over to using personal laptops for student testing probably doesn’t seem like that big of a deal in Norway. But the fact is, they have become the only nation in the Western world to allow a personal computer to be used to complete a standardized test. If the pilot program proves successful, you can expect to see other European nations following suit in the near future. After all, a school’s budget can go a lot further when they don’t have to provide individual testing computers for every single student. It just makes sense.
