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With technology finding its way into the grading process of papers, one wonders if convenience corrupts the sacred human evaluation process

This article on paper grading technology I bumped into on CNN had me particularly troubled. In a quick summary, computer software is being implemented at a number of institutions to grade papers submitted by students. Do not get me wrong, I believe in the use of technology to ease the burdens of our lives. I admit to being a “geek” to a considerable extent, but this new concept of software almost replacing humans had me shocked. While the development of various technologies has always had to do something with appealing to the laziness of the masses, this new grading method sets a new low in my eyes.

The saying about a student failing to learn because the teacher failed to teach could hardly apply more than here. I am nothing short of insulted by the notion of a computer evaluating what I create with full heart and mind, utilizing both sides of my brain. I could not care less what degrees the designers, programmers, and implementers of this new grading model have; their pure surrender to such convenience and laziness is revolting. (This Ed Brent is referred to as a “professor”? Is he going to share his title and hispaycheck with the software that does part of his job?) They call themselves educators while trying to find shortcuts to execute their duties.

“Other programs compare a student's paper with a database of already-scored papers, seeking to assign it a score based on what other similar-quality assignments have received.“ Great, march on the clone army of writers, where nobody can be an original individual. What is next? Judges and juries replaced by computers? Should a human being’s faith be put in the hands of circuitry? Have these people lost their minds? Do they not realize where all this is leading to? I am satisfied by the doubts clearly expressed in the article, and I hope the examples of how the program could be fooled will serve as nothing but in-your-face cautionary signs to the creators, users, and “victims” of such technology. I would have absolutely no desire to attend an institution that places so little value on creativity and on humanity’s eternal quest for knowledge and expression.