Do your teachers allow for any use of open book/notes for tests?

[Andy Resnick]

So the initial results are in for my Algebra-based Physics I class:

This year, I made the exams open book and open note (last year, they were all closed-book, but I gave out a formula sheet with the exams).

I did my best to make the exams the same- same formula sheet, same format, same level of difficulty.

There was *no change* to the distribution of test scores.

Something to think about...

 

[simplybee]

Most of my classes have 1 to 2 hour exams where I'm allowed to bring in one 8.5 x 11 piece of paper with anything I want written on it, front and back. I like this format. They're also normally small enough to finish in half the time allotted if you're very quick with solving each problem. This size reduces stress, allows good students to check and recheck their work, and allows bad students to sit and think for a while.

I've had one course like this, except we were only allowed one side. I've always been prejudiced against these courses, though, ever since my first year math prof told us that when you're allowed cheat sheets they make the questions trickier to compensate. When I compare the course that I was allowed the cheat sheet into the courses that I wasn't, I do find this to be the case. I'm currently somewhere around the second or third year mark of engineering (university) maths.

One of my friends is taking a college engineering program, though, and he said they're allowed "anything they'd have in a work environment for reference" short of computers, cell phones, etc. I think this applies to his math courses, although I could be wrong and it could just be the engineering ones.

 

[jeremmed77]

Yes, my calculus professor has been letting us use a notecard of notes for our tests. The notecard is 3x5 so it is not very big, but it is useful. It is at a two year community college.

My teacher actually let us talk to other students for sixty seconds during our last test. I thought that was strange. Any one else had something similar happen?

 

[Pengwuino]

So the initial results are in for my Algebra-based Physics I class:

This year, I made the exams open book and open note (last year, they were all closed-book, but I gave out a formula sheet with the exams).

I did my best to make the exams the same- same formula sheet, same format, same level of difficulty.

There was *no change* to the distribution of test scores.

Something to think about...

What were your sample sizes? Interesting indeed...

 

[Andy Resnick]

What were your sample sizes? Interesting indeed...

40 students last year, 60 students this year.

 

[Andy Resnick]

Another data point- I just graded test #2- and this time, I even had some questions carried over from last year.

Again, no change in the distribution of test scores.