Shawn De Both

EDCI 270
Case Study 5
Case Study 5 focused on the main issue of computerized essay
scoring. This is a controversial issue in the modern education field and
requires educators to consider the benefits and drawbacks of this
technology in the classroom. The benefits of computerized essay
scoring include the rapid speed at which essays can be scored and the
low cost to do so. Additionally, computers are very consistent with how
they score and grade essays. Human error and bias is not a factor with
the technology. Some drawbacks of the technology include the
absence of the computers ability to recognize critical thinking skills
and creative writing. It cannot understand the power of analogies or
complex writing structures. Most computerized grading technologies
work off of a cookie-cutter-like formula and discourages out of the box
thinking. These benefits and drawbacks are relative to teachers as the
primary graders and scorers.
As an educator, computerized essay scoring poses a very
interesting conundrum. On one hand, it allows the teacher to spend
more time on other aspects of teaching rather than grading. This would
allow the teacher to spend more time preparing for lessons and
actively teaching. On the other hand, it disallows the students to
receive vital feedback about how the quality of their work. They do not
necessarily know where mistakes were made, and cannot learn from
them. This is one of the most important aspects of being an educator.
It is also one of the greatest responsibilities of being an educator.
Students deserve a teacher who can give constructive feedback to
better help guide them through the learning processes. Educators are
also tasked with recognizing the difference between conventional
thinking and creative thinking. More often than not, teachers force
students to think through a specific lens and follow a certain train of
thought that is very unlike their own individual styles. Computerized
scoring emphasizes run of the mill thinking and writing, while true
learning involves individuality and creativity. One of the articles
demonstrated how it is possible to score highly on an essay by
repeating the same small group of words in different orders, even
though the essay made no coherent sense.
However, for large scale standardized testing, it seems as though
computerized essay scoring has become a technology that is gaining
prominence. The low cost and consistent scoring is where the power of
computerized essay scoring really makes its case. With improved
technology about how to screen content, hopefully this method will
become more and more prominent. If this technology could improve its
ability to recognize the difference in quality writing and not, as well as
be able to provide constructive feedback, this should be more

implemented. However until those technologies develop, it is unfair

and unethical to prevent students from receiving the best education
possible.