Is the take-home essay obsolete in a context where students have generative Al tools at their disposal?
Are in-class exams the only way to secure the integrity of written assignments? We argue no.
Oral assessments that accompany take-home essays are a viable solution. They incentivise students to take intellectual responsibility for their work, reduce the need to police students' Al usage, and preserve the kinds of conversations and relationships that make education feel purposeful.
In this workshop, we will discuss why the take-home essay is worth saving, why alternative forms of assessment are inadequate substitutes, how we've conducted oral assessments in our own classes, and common concerns with this method.