My personal take on this is that students should be allowed to use computers
during exams without any limitations. To assess the higher level thinking
skills and collaborative work habits needed as part of "21st century"
learning, we need to embrace the tools that students will use in the
workplace and in higher education. This means re-thinking the how assessment
is performed, and what are the appropriate artifacts of assessment. I think
that e-portfolios play will play a role and important role in modern
assessment practices, as will authentic assessment opportunities provided by
audiences other than the teacher.
Clearly such assessment practices are at odds with the common practice of
many schools. So it is important for a faculty to discuss the role of
assessment, including current practices, emerging practices, and the overall
goals of the school.
AP Exams and other standardized test situations present special challenges,
and as long as a school is tied to APs there is something to be said for
giving the students practice with traditional paper and pencil tests. One
may argue that the AP tail is wagging the dog, but that is another
discussion.
-----
Steve Taffee staffee@castilleja.org
Director of Technology 650.924.1040 (Google Voice)
Castilleja School 650.470.7725 (office)
1310 Bryant Street 415.613.6684 (mobile)
Palo Alto, CA 94301 www.castilleja.org | taffee.edublogs.org
Women Learning, Women Leading
Please consider the environment and print only when necessary.
*
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:57:06 -0500
From: Debbie Anderson <DAnderson@mcleanschool.org>
Subject: Computer Cheating
We are examining our practices of computer access during exams and would
like to know what other Upper School's do. Do you allow students to use
their own laptops during tests and exams? Do you block internet access? Do
you use software like secure exam?*
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