I believe - this is only a matter of time (I mean bringing devices for the exam), currently they are with their devices throughout the lecture and the workshop... so, for keeping students engaged, have these devices form part of your work... as I did last year with the undergraduate class - when I said, well an update of this info will be easily found on the web... who can tell me the update figure!! and suddenly you would see high rate of engagement, which is followed by a time of concentration, as their services might be called upon later!!!

As for the own devices in the exams, I have read that some medical schools have started already - but, it seems it has its teething problems (plagiarism!)... working to solve this.

Indeed, it is a new game! that needs to employ critical thinking and reflection... rather than memorising facts... application, critical thinking and reflection... involving their own thoughts - previous experience, current and future life.

Dear Dr. Miranda Yeoh, I agree with the view point of Dr.Theodora Issa. In addition I want to drag your attention that we cannot deny about the craze of new devices. Long back using Log Table, Slide Rule, Calculator, ....created enthusiasm to a level of craze in their ages. However, some more chances of easy plagiarisms are there.

I wish my institution would allow my students to bring their laptops and tablets. I could give them instant online quizes, have them watch videos, compare facts between education in Latin American countries with education elsewhere. In regards to plagiarism, I believe that there has always been plagiarism. We are not different from what we were 6,000 years ago. Just check the Annalects of confucius to find out if we have changed or not.

I believe your institution would sooner or later approve the use of devices by the students... and as you say plagiarism is not a new issue - but, this adds to our responsibilities - we usually use TURNITIN to spot this! but also you need to be careful looking into the reports published by this software.

BYOD in the classroom underscores the need for universities (and secondary schools) to reshape themselves, making the transition from "source of data" to "crucible of understanding". Students can -- and should -- demand more from a university classroom than the provision of information. Why should a student pay money to attend my course if I am merely providing the same information they could find online? I believe that the answers are "interactivity" and "personal attention".

Wow, the matters that you have brought up are important. Concerning plagiarism, we dealt with it during our Research Design course, while I was doing my PhD. Citing and acknowledging the original source is honest, we must cite; and not steal ideas or intellectual property.

Furthermore, for some of us who wrote our theses in English (and not in Malay), we may have an external supervisor, who is the most suitable person to supervise our work because that person has done research in the same area. What would have happened if we had plagiarized that person's work? My external supervisor was Dr. Rawlings in Australia. I cited a substantial amount of his previous research :)

Shall we say that practicing moral and scientific values like honesty actually benefits us?

Miranda, indeed, we need to go back to the traditional moral values, and the more we practice morality the better - but hey - you need to convince those who are after the quick profit and excellent marks without any work!?

I think it is not problem if the students use own device (laptop) in subject programming, if they use it easier as the computers from the lab, because the installed tools they can use at home until practice and they know/use own keyboard easier. Other case to use it in the exams.

- the teacher have to control the data on the computer (teacher have right to do that?)

- if the students use the computer of the lab until the exam they can change/find information over the internet/facebook. We use iTalk until the exam the teacher can see the screen of the students and watch what they do and see. I always share all of the screens of the students with projector. The pictures are enough big to see what they do (deterrent), but not enough big to get help from each other.

Gabor thanks for the input - the iTALK is a good suggestion.

Regards

Thanks for your contributions. For some of us there is still time to prepare, and ensure that Technology fulfills an assisting role. The job hasn't changed, but the tools have greatly changed!

I do not care about their computers. They can use them even during an exam. The teacher should change only the question and a comprehensive, complex question cannot be answered with a computer or the Wikipedia stuff. Thinking cannot be substituted by computers.

However, regarding the general teaching tendency students may use soon their devices always.

Dear Dr. Miranda Yeoh, I want to open this debate a little further in context to my previous posts. Students of all the ages brought their devices in the class rooms and this will happen and this is "Evolution". Denying that is denying with the fact. Log table, Slide rule, Calculator, Scientific Calculator, Programmable Calculator, SAP I, SAP II, SAP III, Laptop, Tablet ...

What need to be changed we instructiors have to change our styles in our teachings and evaluationsto enhance the learning with uttermost precautions of plagiarism.

Dear Dr. Afaq,

Honesty, integrity and a real interest in the chosen profession in which field instead of a future degree holder a really responsible and conscientious specialist want to work. Certainly, teachers cannot change the socio-economic environment. There is one more possibility, selection of the truly suitable young men/ladies for universities.

Andras,

Thank you for bringing up the honesty and integrity argument - indeed, we at the universities have forgotten that our main aim is to bring in individuals to the business and societies who are of GOOD CHARACTER! we forgot the issue of character and would only concentrate on the marks, transcripts and that piece of paper 'certificate'.

Regards

Thanks Uday, Andras, Afaq and Theodora. I know that with BYOD, our methods of asking questions must change. 'Styles of teaching' as Afaq said, must differ also. In my country, BYOD hasn't yet started, so I will be a bit more backward as compared to some of my friends.

Yes Afaq, our styles of teaching and Evaluation have to change.

Please view:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_creative_ways_to_set_higher-order_thinking_questions