University students to take exams on mobiles

BANGALORE: Even as the state government has banned the use of cellphones inside college campuses, city based colleges are opting for cellphone services for academic purposes.

They conducted exams on cellphones and all they needed was to load the handsets with a unique software developed by Bangalore based IPOMO Communications India Private Limited.

Students are given handsets from college authorities with software loaded in it and questions come with four options as answers. A student has to click the correct answer.

Dr M Prakash, principal of Seshadripuram First Grade College, Yelahanka, said the college introduced the system as a pilot project in some courses last year.

The college management has now decided to extend it to all the courses.

Former Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University M S Thimmappa said it was a good move. "Exams will be transparent and it will save time of both the teachers and the students," he said.

'Avoid lengthy answers'

Prakash said there were more than 3,000 students studying BA, BSc, BCom and BBM courses in the college.

Each student will be given a handset and they will answer 40 questions in one hour for tests and 120 questions in three hours during exams, he said.

"Thus, we will avoid lengthy answers, which will save the time of teachers and students," he said. "Even valuation will be paperless."

Prakash said there was another advantage.

Students will not be able to copy from each other.

"Questions will be jumbled and though the same questions will appear before all students, their order will be different," he said.

The college has also experimented with tracking attendance through cellphones. Teachers have handsets with a password and the database of the college is uploaded in it.

"Teachers need to click on the names of students who are absent," said Prakash. "If the student is absent for three classes together, message will be immediately sent to their parents."

Prakash said attendance in the college has after improved since the system was introduced.

At Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College, which offers preuniversity and degree courses, too use the technology.

More than 3,600 students study in the college.

According to Dr T L Shantha, director of the college, they have introduced softskills and aptitude tests on mobile phones apart from using them for tracking attendance and holding exams.

Degree students are given training in aptitude test to prepare them for competitive exams.

Thimappa said allowing students to opt for optional answers will make them apply their mind. "It will give them speed and accuracy too," he said. "But one should ensure that exams are conducted inside classrooms with an invegilator."

The college has introduced mobile technology classes in their curriculum.

"We have alloted one hour in our timetable and it is applicable for all students," she said.