Open books, sharper minds

With growing emphasis on critical and creative thinking, some experts suggest a shift towards open book exams that will assess how students apply their knowledge to real life problems instead of what they have memorized. Open books exams require teachers to be more creative and to design and implement student-centric learning so that students understand the material and analyse case studies to connect with real world situations. In order to bring in an open book exam, teachers should have new ideas and be tech-savvy. The reality is that today’s exams are at odds with the focus on problem solving and critical and creative thinking. We often ask ourselves why we do not produce scientists, philosophers or other professionals and problem solvers of high merit. It is because the ability to think critically is not encouraged here. Actually, it is discouraged, if not forbidden. The education system, as it stands, advocates for rote-learning and not creativity or critical thinking.

Shafi Ahmed Khowaja

Hyderabad