Gadag: A unique practical examination for B.Ed Psychology students in Karnataka’s Gadag district has triggered widespread debate after students were asked to write their papers amid deliberately created noise and distractions.
Videos of the unusual exercise have gone viral on social media, with many questioning whether such methods are innovative teaching techniques or unfair practices that place unnecessary stress on students.
The practical was reportedly designed to assess students’ concentration levels and their ability to remain focused under challenging conditions.
Students write amid loud distractions
According to social media posts, the incident took place in Gadag, although the exact date of the exercise has not been confirmed.
Instead of conducting the practical in a quiet classroom setting, students were made to write their examination while loud disturbances were intentionally created around them.
Videos circulating online show rows of students attempting to answer their papers while a group of people around them shout, scream and hoot. Some individuals can also be seen banging sticks on desks and hitting steel plates to create maximum noise.
Despite the commotion, the students continue writing their answers and trying to maintain concentration.
The exercise was reportedly intended to test how students cope with distractions and stressful situations, a concept often studied in educational psychology.
Social media divided over the exercise
The videos have generated mixed reactions on social media, with some users describing the experiment as interesting and others criticising it as unfair.
One user wrote, “It looks interesting, just one thing I need to know whether these students practise their career in this much loud noise?”
Another user questioned the method, saying, “This is so unfair. How can they expect anyone to concentrate like this?”
Some social media users strongly criticised the exercise, arguing that examinations should assess knowledge rather than a person’s ability to tolerate chaos.
“Shameful! Exams should test knowledge, not how much chaos students can tolerate. This is unfair and unacceptable,” one user commented.
Another post questioned whether the exercise had been approved by educational authorities and criticised what the user described as a “mockery of education”.
Psychology practical or excessive stress?
The incident has sparked a broader discussion on experiential learning methods and the role of practical exercises in psychology education.
Educational psychology often studies concepts such as attention, concentration and the effects of environmental distractions on learning and performance. Simulated exercises are sometimes used to help students understand these principles in real-world settings.
However, critics argue that creating excessive noise and disruption during an examination may affect student performance and raise questions about the fairness of the assessment.
Supporters of the exercise, meanwhile, believe it offers practical insights into how people react under pressure and can help future teachers understand the challenges students face in distracting environments.
Debate continues online
As the videos continue to circulate widely, the Gadag practical examination has become the subject of intense online debate, with opinions divided over whether the exercise was an innovative educational experiment or an unnecessary ordeal for students.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing discussion around unconventional teaching methods and the need to strike a balance between practical learning and fair assessment practices in educational institutions.