Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!ukma!ukecc!wes
From: wes@engr.uky.edu (Wes Morgan)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Calculators in exams, was: Becoming CAI literate
Message-ID: <2032@ukecc.engr.uky.edu>
Date: 17 Feb 88 14:48:41 GMT
References: <776@zippy.eecs.umich.edu> <3316@killer.UUCP> <4618@ecsvax.UUCP>
Organization: Ennui Rampant @ UKentucky/Lexington
Lines: 29



The most original test I've seen came from Berea College in Kentucky. 
It was announced in Calculus class that the use of calculators would
be permitted on exams.  The day of the first exam came, and everyone
was whipping their button-punching skills into their peak level. The
tests were passed out, and surprise!

FOR EACH PROBLEM, GIVE AN EXPLANATION OF YOUR METHOD OF SOLVING THE
PROBLEM.  DO NOT PERFORM ANY MATHEMATICAL CALCULATIONS WHATSOEVER.
YOU MAY USE COMMON THEOREMS BY EITHER WRITING OUT THE FORMULA OR 
CITING THEM BY NAME (E.G.  THE INTERMEDIATE VALUE THEOREM).

GOOD LUCK.

I thought this was an excellent examination method.  It would prove
the students' knowledge while allowing a larger exam, since the ab-
sence of time-consuming math made longer problems possible.


Comments?

Wes


-- 
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