Het internet op tijdens een tentamen: aan een Deense universiteit mag het. Overleggen en informatie opzoeken heten daar geen fraude meer.
Je kunt fraude voorkomen door studenten een blaadje en een pen te geven en verder alles te verbieden, zegt een medewerker van de Universiteit van Zuid-Denemarken tegen de website Insidehighered. Maar je kunt ook het omgekeerde doen: alles toestaan behalve plagiaat.
Dat laatste lijkt de universiteit veel vruchtbaarder. Het is niet eenvoudig om het internet goed te gebruiken, vinden de Denen. Er zijn zoveel bronnen, dat het lastig is de waarde ervan in te schatten. Daardoor blijft het mogelijk studenten te toetsen op analytische vaardigheden.
Volgens een medewerker helpt het om het aantal woorden te limiteren dat studenten in hun antwoord mogen gebruiken. Als ze knippen en plakken, wordt het al snel te lang en moeten ze de tekst alsnog in eigen woorden samenvatten. De universiteit gebruikt ook software om plagiaat op te sporen.
Open boek-tentamens komen het dichtst in de buurt bij deze vorm van toetsing. Die zijn in Nederland al enige jaren gemeengoed.
Blackest black
Researchers in the United States have designed a metamaterial whose internal structure is capable of absorbing virtually all electromagnetic radiation. This ‘blacker than black’ metamaterial has optical properties not usually found in nature, and hence objects made from it are perfectly black, as opposed to normal black objects, which always reflect some light. The researchers tested their creation by using near-infrared radiation with a wavelength of approximately 900 nanometres (or just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum) to illuminate both polished and roughened pieces of their material. They found that 20 percent of the light reflected off the surface of the polished material, but less than 1 percent off the roughened version. Interviewed in New Scientist, Evgenii Narimanov, one the researchers behind this discovery, said the new metamaterial would likely be used for “stealth technology in the gigahertz range” – that is, for building military equipment invisible to radar.
Nuna5
The Nuon Solar Team will participate in the largest solar track race in the world, the Suzuka Dream Cup. In anticipation of this event, designers at the Delftware factory, ‘The Porceleyne Fles’, have given Nuna5 a complete makeover, adding Delft Blue patterns to the car’s outer design. This is the first time the Nuon Solar Team will compete in the Suzuka Dream Cup, held in late July. “The Delft Blue design is of course a fantastic business card for a Dutch team in Japan,” says Geert Kroon, Nuna5’s project leader. On June 17 the new-look Nuna5 will be exhibited for TU Delft students and the press at the Museum het Prinsenhof in Delft. The Suzuka Dream Cup is the world’s largest circuit track race for solar-powered vehicles. Approximately 40 other teams, primarily form Japan, will compete in the race.
Virtual alumni
Nuffic, the Netherlands organization for international cooperation in higher education, has launched a new virtual Holland Alumni network. This networking tool offers (international) alumni a host of services, including posting news and events, searching for alumni directory members, receiving online training about fundraising, networking and volunteer management, and accessing a virtual office of shared documents.
Housing woes
Duwo is facing an uphill battle in its efforts to solve the shortage of student housing in Delft. While demand remains high for student housing, Duwo faces increasing difficulties in securing financing for the construction of new student housing complexes, according to a recent report. Such difficulties are apparent in Delft, where large new construction and renovation projects in TU-Noord that were planned to be completed in 2009 and 2010 have remained stalled, owing in part to the current financial crisis.
Tram delay
Construction of tram line 19, which will run from the TU Delft campus to Delft Central Station, has been delayed again. The reason is that the Sebastiaans Bridge cannot be replaced. TU Delft is not pleased. Plans for tram line 19 have been in place for six years. Four years ago it was discovered that the Sebastiaans Bridge was too weak to support a tram line and thus would have to be replaced. A host of problems however have arisen over the years to delay the bridge replacement project, including permit delays. But now a new investigation, which has found that the bottom soil is polluted with cooper, lead and zinc, has led to more uncertainty about the project. Hans Krul, the secretary of TU Delft’s Executive Board, is “not happy” with the new delays: “I find it very strange indeed that these uncertainties are only now becoming known. This won’t win any beauty prizes. The accessibility of TU Delft and Technopolis suffer as result.”
Correction
In the article, ‘Uprising at Roland Holstlaan’, published in Delta 20, Mohammad Karimi was misquoted, owing to a translation error from Farsi to English for publication. Karimi was quoted as saying: “For 45 minutes Elco van Oort from IO talked about Duwo, very generally”. The quote should have read: “For 45 minutes, only Elco van Oort from IO and a Duwo representative talked, very generally.” The word ‘unsatisfactory’ elsewhere in this article was also misattributed to Karimi. Delta regrets these errors.
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