NEW TRENDS IN EXAMINATION
OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION
Open-book examinations are similar to traditional examinations. The major difference is that in open-book examinations, students are allowed to bring their textbooks, notes or other reference materials into the examination situations. Teachers may also assign a standard set of teaching materials or a standard set of examination questions to their students before the examination, so that students can prepare in advance with the assigned resources.They test your ability to find and apply information and knowledge, so are often used in subjects requiring direct reference to written materials, like law statutes, statistics or acts of parliament.
Two types of open book examinations
One may think of two kinds of open book examinations, say the restricted type and the unrestricted type.
In the restricted type of open book examinations, students are permitted to bring into the examination room one or more specific documents approved by the course instructor.
In the restricted open book examination, students may be permitted to consult printed documents such as the logarthmic tables, dictionaries, or complete works of Shakespeare, but no handwritten material or printed documents which have not had prior approval. One may also need to make sure that the printed documents that students bring do not contain any scribbles on the margin.
In the Unrestricted type,students are free to bring whatever they like.They may bring any books(with or without scribbles on the margin),lecture handouts of the course instructor,or their own handwritten notes.
What kinds of material can be used?
The materials you can take into an open-book exam can vary. Some restrict the type of materials, e.g. formula sheets, tables or a limited number of texts, while others may be totally unrestricted (any quantity of any material).
Materials might be your notesreadings, reference materials or textbooks equipment like calculators, drafting tools etc.
Materials used in take-home exams are usually unrestricted. Check your course guide or with your lecturer to find out what you can use. The main restriction for take-home exams is that they must be your work—you must attempt them by yourself without any help from others.
Why are some exams open book?
Open-book exams test for more than just rote-learning. At university, simply memorising and repeating information is not enough to get you a good mark. Higher education is supposed to equip you with intellectual abilities and skills. Open-book exams test your ability to quickly find relevant information and then to understand, analyse, apply knowledge and think critically.
- Most people find open book tests less stressful than closed book tests.
- Open book questions will emphasize problem solving,creativity,or deep knowledge rather than a simple recall or facts.
- Open book exams reflect real life more accurately than closed book exams.
- This type of exam emphasize deep knowledge and mimic reality more closely than closed book exams.
What kinds of questions will an open-book exam have?
Open-book exams don't test your memory; they test your ability to find and use information for problem solving, and to deliver well-structured and well-presented arguments and solutions.
Open-book exam questions usually require you to apply knowledge, and they may be essay-style questions or involve problem solving or delivering solutions. The style of question depends on the faculty or school setting the exam. For example, in Law, the questions may set up a hypothetical fact situation that you will need to discuss.
How to design a good Open-book Examination Assessment?
Set questions that require students to do things with the information available to them, rather than to merely locate the correct information and then summarize or rewrite it
Make the actual questions straightforward and clear to understand. Students usually read the questions quickly because they often want to save their time searching answers from textbooks and notes
Arrange a bigger venue to hold the examinations because students may need larger desks for examinations
Make sure there is enough time for students taking the examination. The length of open-book examination is usually longer than the traditional examination because students need extra time for searching information and data from their notes and textbooks.
Set up the appropriate marking criteria for open-book examinations as the aspects to be assessed in open-book examinations may be different from those in traditional examinations. For example, the assessment criteria may have to weigh more on the application of knowledge, comprehension skills and critical thinking skills, rather than recalling knowledge from textbooks and notes.
Misconceptions about open book exams
1) Open-book exams are a breeze
Open-book exams are not an easy option. Answering the questions well requires more than just copying information straight from texts. For example, having access to a textbook can stop you from giving a wrong answer if you can't remember a fact or formula, but just getting that fact correct won't get you good marks. In open-book exams, it's how you locate, apply and use the information that is important.
2) You don't have to study
Probably the biggest misconception about open-book exams is that there is no need to study. You should study just as you would for any other exam. Having books and notes to refer to might mean you don't have to memorise as much information, but you still need to be able to apply it effectively.
This means you must fully understand and be familiar with the content and materials of your course so you can find and use the appropriate information. In open-book exams, you need to quickly find the relevant information in the resources you have. If you don't study, you won't know where to find the information.
3) You can just copy straight from the book!
You can't copy chunks of text directly from textbooks or notes. This is plagiarism. In open-book exams, the resource materials are made available to you, so you are expected to do more than just reproduce them. You must be able to find, interpret and apply the information in your sources to the exam questions. You usually need to reference as well, just as you would for any other assignment.
4) The more materials the better!
Don't get carried away and overload with materials and resources in the exam—only take what you need. Stacks of books won't necessarily guarantee your performance, and you won't have time for extensive reading. Too many materials can end up distracting you and crowding up your workspace. Carefully select your materials and organise them for quick reference.
Advantages of open book examination
Less demanding on memory
Examination becomes a learning process
Verifies ability to retrieve information.
Enhance the comprehension and synthesizing skills.
It reduces examination anxiety.
Permits higher order questions.
Disadvantages of open book examination
Difficult to ensure equitable resourses for all students.
Libraries usually possess few copies of the same book.
More space is needed during examinations.
Students are unfamiliar with the exam.
Clear procedures and rules are still evolving.
OPEN BOOK EXAMINATION
Open-book examinations are similar to traditional examinations. The major difference is that in open-book examinations, students are allowed to bring their textbooks, notes or other reference materials into the examination situations. Teachers may also assign a standard set of teaching materials or a standard set of examination questions to their students before the examination, so that students can prepare in advance with the assigned resources.They test your ability to find and apply information and knowledge, so are often used in subjects requiring direct reference to written materials, like law statutes, statistics or acts of parliament.
Two types of open book examinations
One may think of two kinds of open book examinations, say the restricted type and the unrestricted type.
In the restricted type of open book examinations, students are permitted to bring into the examination room one or more specific documents approved by the course instructor.
In the restricted open book examination, students may be permitted to consult printed documents such as the logarthmic tables, dictionaries, or complete works of Shakespeare, but no handwritten material or printed documents which have not had prior approval. One may also need to make sure that the printed documents that students bring do not contain any scribbles on the margin.
In the Unrestricted type,students are free to bring whatever they like.They may bring any books(with or without scribbles on the margin),lecture handouts of the course instructor,or their own handwritten notes.
What kinds of material can be used?
The materials you can take into an open-book exam can vary. Some restrict the type of materials, e.g. formula sheets, tables or a limited number of texts, while others may be totally unrestricted (any quantity of any material).
Materials might be your notesreadings, reference materials or textbooks equipment like calculators, drafting tools etc.
Materials used in take-home exams are usually unrestricted. Check your course guide or with your lecturer to find out what you can use. The main restriction for take-home exams is that they must be your work—you must attempt them by yourself without any help from others.
Why are some exams open book?
Open-book exams test for more than just rote-learning. At university, simply memorising and repeating information is not enough to get you a good mark. Higher education is supposed to equip you with intellectual abilities and skills. Open-book exams test your ability to quickly find relevant information and then to understand, analyse, apply knowledge and think critically.
- Most people find open book tests less stressful than closed book tests.
- Open book questions will emphasize problem solving,creativity,or deep knowledge rather than a simple recall or facts.
- Open book exams reflect real life more accurately than closed book exams.
- This type of exam emphasize deep knowledge and mimic reality more closely than closed book exams.
What kinds of questions will an open-book exam have?
Open-book exams don't test your memory; they test your ability to find and use information for problem solving, and to deliver well-structured and well-presented arguments and solutions.
Open-book exam questions usually require you to apply knowledge, and they may be essay-style questions or involve problem solving or delivering solutions. The style of question depends on the faculty or school setting the exam. For example, in Law, the questions may set up a hypothetical fact situation that you will need to discuss.
How to design a good Open-book Examination Assessment?
Set questions that require students to do things with the information available to them, rather than to merely locate the correct information and then summarize or rewrite it
Make the actual questions straightforward and clear to understand. Students usually read the questions quickly because they often want to save their time searching answers from textbooks and notes
Arrange a bigger venue to hold the examinations because students may need larger desks for examinations
Make sure there is enough time for students taking the examination. The length of open-book examination is usually longer than the traditional examination because students need extra time for searching information and data from their notes and textbooks.
Set up the appropriate marking criteria for open-book examinations as the aspects to be assessed in open-book examinations may be different from those in traditional examinations. For example, the assessment criteria may have to weigh more on the application of knowledge, comprehension skills and critical thinking skills, rather than recalling knowledge from textbooks and notes.
Misconceptions about open book exams
1) Open-book exams are a breeze
Open-book exams are not an easy option. Answering the questions well requires more than just copying information straight from texts. For example, having access to a textbook can stop you from giving a wrong answer if you can't remember a fact or formula, but just getting that fact correct won't get you good marks. In open-book exams, it's how you locate, apply and use the information that is important.
2) You don't have to study
Probably the biggest misconception about open-book exams is that there is no need to study. You should study just as you would for any other exam. Having books and notes to refer to might mean you don't have to memorise as much information, but you still need to be able to apply it effectively.
This means you must fully understand and be familiar with the content and materials of your course so you can find and use the appropriate information. In open-book exams, you need to quickly find the relevant information in the resources you have. If you don't study, you won't know where to find the information.
3) You can just copy straight from the book!
You can't copy chunks of text directly from textbooks or notes. This is plagiarism. In open-book exams, the resource materials are made available to you, so you are expected to do more than just reproduce them. You must be able to find, interpret and apply the information in your sources to the exam questions. You usually need to reference as well, just as you would for any other assignment.
4) The more materials the better!
Don't get carried away and overload with materials and resources in the exam—only take what you need. Stacks of books won't necessarily guarantee your performance, and you won't have time for extensive reading. Too many materials can end up distracting you and crowding up your workspace. Carefully select your materials and organise them for quick reference.
Advantages of open book examination
Less demanding on memory
Examination becomes a learning process
Verifies ability to retrieve information.
Enhance the comprehension and synthesizing skills.
It reduces examination anxiety.
Permits higher order questions.
Disadvantages of open book examination
Difficult to ensure equitable resourses for all students.
Libraries usually possess few copies of the same book.
More space is needed during examinations.
Students are unfamiliar with the exam.
Clear procedures and rules are still evolving.
No comments:
Post a Comment