Guest dada_rocks Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 http://www.ibnlive.com/news/gujarat-set-to-try-openbook-exams-for-middle-school/73253-3.html While all else are still clamouring over the burden these days we put on kids Gujarat adminstration is doing sthg about it.. **************************** Many say they are ready for the experiment. Educationist Vinod Raina says, “Exams test comprehension and not memory, but having said that, it's class 10th and 12th that needs change because that stress has to be very high. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has agreed that class XI and XII will follow the open-book pattern from the next academic year. A training programme for examiners is now in order for the move to really work.
ludhianvi Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 This is spreading a lot in Western universities as well. Not all, but some courses do follow this practice of open book exams. While an open book exam may appear easy, there's not time for one to study in the exam and the questions require more thought.
fineleg Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I've had my share of open and closed book tests. The open book tests will be a lot more difficult. Just becoz its open book, does not mean "easy for students". But its good since it will test your understanding of the subject matter. The only person for whom the open book (open any book) is easy is for the proctor.
Holysmoke Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Only a very small subset of all exams can be made open book. Also, burden on kids is not all that bad. We have to realise, that generally the level of education is getting harder each and every year, and no school/board can afford to stay behind. A freshman level course at my university will be tougher now, as compared to when I took it four years ago. Similarly, what my brother did in 10th grade was more comprehensive as compared to what I did. India has a very distinct advantage in schooling over other countries, and we dont need to make exams easier to reduce stress on kids. I dont believe for a single moment that kids in 10th/12th are overstressed. Its just parents being paranoid.
Holysmoke Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I would prefer having closed book tests, as compared to open book tests. That way they really test whether you know the material or not. Its similar to using a calculator for doing arithmetic. If you're not used to a calculator, you can probably do 19*19 in a couple of seconds, but once you start using a calculator, you lose that basic grasp of arithmetic that you had, and become reliant on one.
fineleg Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I would prefer having closed book tests' date=' as compared to open book tests. That way they[b'] really test whether you know the material or not. Closed book in India (for the most part) tests only "learn things by rote" and regurgitate. They dont test understanding.
punjabi_khota Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Open book in college makes a whole lot of more sense...
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