Amidst the widespread use of artificial intelligence by students in US universities, oral exams are increasingly being implemented to assess knowledge. Teachers report that written assignments prepared at home are "too perfect," but students often struggle to explain the content of those assignments. This situation raises serious concerns about students' critical thinking and independent analysis skills.
In our country, students are also widely using artificial intelligence for their lessons. Often, they use it not just as an auxiliary tool, but as the primary source for explanations or answers.
This raises the question: can the oral exam system implemented in US universities be used in our country as well? In general, is such a system needed?
Günay Əkbərova, secretary of the Public Council under the Ministry of Science and Education, told AzEdu.az that it is already observed that while some written works are technically perfect, students struggle to explain the content:
"The implementation of oral exams against the backdrop of the widespread use of artificial intelligence in US universities is not a random approach, but rather an assessment model adapted to the new reality. Because it is already observed that while some written works are technically perfect, students struggle to explain the content. This raises questions about their understanding of the subject, critical thinking, and independent analysis skills.
A similar trend is felt in our country as well. Students widely use artificial intelligence tools, and in some cases, these tools become a source of ready-made answers rather than supporting the learning process. This necessitates a review of assessment mechanisms.
The main advantage of oral exams is that this format more objectively reveals how well a student understands the subject, how they express their thoughts, and how they can think in real-time. In addition, this approach stimulates the development of critical thinking and communication skills."
The direct and full implementation of this system in our country may be accompanied by certain difficulties:
"However, the direct and full implementation of this system in our country may be accompanied by certain difficulties. The crowdedness of classrooms, the workload of teachers, and the fact that existing assessment models are mainly written and test-oriented make it more appropriate to implement this transition gradually.
In this regard, the integration of oral elements alongside written assessments can be recommended as a more effective approach. Short presentations, explanatory questions, project-based assignments, and active in-class discussions can be considered practical steps in this direction.
Ultimately, the goal is not to restrict the use of artificial intelligence, but to integrate it into the educational process correctly and purposefully. The main priority is to preserve and develop students' independent thinking, analysis, and expression skills."
