Norway begins laptop-based exam project

The government in Norway is giving out laptops to 16-year-old students to help them with their everyday schoolwork. Now, some 6,000 students are involved in a trial to use these laptops to take their final exams. If successfully, the plan could be rolled out across the country.

One element that is pivotal to the success of the laptop exams is an application that incorporates keylogging and screen capture capabilities, as well as preventing the laptops from accessing the Internet. The idea is that while applications such as spellcheckers are acceptable, more sophisticated software--such as a translation program--would be prohibited. Students caught cheating immediately fail the test--as with paper-based exams.

Norway hopes to eventually move to a fully computer-based system for its exams.

To read more:
- check out this article from BBC News