Some regard it as a savior for overworked teachers, and others see it as reassurance for students suspicious that their poor grades come from bored, ignorant or vengeful teachers.
Critics say it misses the point - that essays teach communication between people.
Education is not about just spewing back information but assimilating it in language,'' said Mary Burgan, executive director of the American Association of University Professors. The Intelligent Essay Assessor software, in development for 10 years, is not yet ready for widespread use in the classroom. Its creators have applied for a patent and want feedback from educators. Thomas Landauer, a university psychology professor who worked on the software, presented it yesterday at a meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Diego. Peter Foltz, an assistant psychology professor at New Mexico State University, also helped.