EDUCATION REPORT - Computer Graded Writing

EDUCATION REPORT - Computer Graded Writing
By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, August 12, 2004

This is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Education Report.

Last year, a report by a committee of education experts said a lot of American students cannot write well. The report noted¹ the concerns of business leaders and teachers. The experts said more students should have to pass a writing test before they can finish high school. They pointed² out that major college entrance tests are changing now to include a writing part.

Educators know that teaching³ students to write well is not easy. One problem is the amount of time needed to read through large amounts of work. So some companies have developed computer programs. These can grade student writing much more quickly than a human can. Writing tests can also cost less to administer⁴ by computer than by paper-and-pencil.

These computer systems are known as e-raters. They use artificial⁵ intelligence to think in a way like teachers. In the state of Indiana, computer grading of a statewide writing test began with a test of the system itself. For two years, both a computer and humans graded the student writing. Officials say there was almost no difference between the computer grades and those given by the human readers.

The entrance test commonly used by business schools, the GMAT, already uses e-readers. The G.R.E. and TOEFL tests might start; officials are deciding. The G.R.E. is the Graduate Record Examination⁶. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Systems are also being used to grade writing in college classes. The computers read a few hundred examples of student writing already graded by humans. Then the systems compare new essays against those already examined.

How do teachers feel about all this? Many say machines can never do the job as well as people can. A computer can find spelling and grammar mistakes. But these teachers say it can never really understand what a writer is trying to say. Critics say a program cannot follow a thought or judge humor⁷ or understand a beautifully expressed idea.

But creators of the programs say computer grading guarantees that each piece of writing is graded in the same way. They also say the systems are meant to judge knowledge more than creativity.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. This is Steve Ember.

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

3 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

4 administer   

v.施行，实施，掌管，料理···的事务，给予

参考例句：

• It takes brains to administer upon a large corporation.管理一家大公司需要智慧。
• They had the right to administer their own internal affairs.他们有权料理自己的事务。

5 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

6 examination   

n.考试，考查，试题；检查，调查

参考例句：

• Teachers always judge their students on the final examination.老师常根据期末考试来评价他们的学生。
• He put up a good show in the final examination.他在期末考试中表现得不错。

7 humor   

n.(humour)幽默，诙谐

参考例句：

• He is distinguished for his sense of humor.他以其幽默感著称。
• American humor is founded largely on hyperbole.美式幽默主要以夸张为基础。