Head of AQA: exams could be online within 3 years

[noblegiraffe]

Colin Hughes, head of AQA has been interviewed:

Mr Hughes said he would support the launch of “national pilots” for “on-screen assessment”, and that it would take just three years to go from the today’s “totally paper-based” system to having some modules on computers…

Computer-based exams would have a range of benefits, he said, such as making it possible to set “adaptive” tests that tailor themselves to each student – getting harder or easier depending on how the student answers questions, to more accurately pinpoint their ability.

Because pupils would all sit slightly different tests, adaptive tests could eventually revolutionise the school calendar, removing the need for a summer exam season.

Instead, students could take the tests on a “when-ready basis”, which would be “arguably fairer”, said Mr Hughes.”

He also says that issues with lack of computers was something that could easily be sorted. I’m not sure how, tbh.

I read stuff like this and think ‘fgs another overhaul of the exams system is not what we need right now.

I also really don’t want kids sitting maths exams on a computer.

inews.co.uk/news/education/gcses-a-levels-2022-computer-based-exams-online-tests-aqa-1308135

No, it's a good idea worth thinking about.

Of course it is, but the state of IT in schools means it's essentially a non-starter.

I don’t know. I think things may change following lockdown and remote learning.

What things? There is zero evidence that the government are any more committed to funding schools than they were previously.

They've given a pitiful amount for covid catch-up funding, the trumpeted pay-rise for teachers isn't being funded so will have to come out of already massively squeezed budgets, and the only thing of note they've put recent money into is making sure all schools are Ofsteded by 2025.

Even if the school had enough laptops/computers to do the test on (and this is extremely doubtful tbh) then there certainly wouldn't be enough electrical sockets to power them!

I have invigilated rooms of over 100 students at once. I've moved a student who found the tapping on a keyboard from a student using one distracting, so imagine the noise from that many candidates pounding a keyboard at once! And if the wifi goes down or there is an IT issue ...

I didn’t really mean the government, tbh. I do think as a very general point, a move to ICT based learning is probably a better prep for leaving school than pen and paper: whether it will happen in three years is questionable.

It's completely impossible if there's not even enough money for soap or tissues in schools!

I can see why they might want to, but it would be awful for my DD. She'd probably have needed an exam concession of 'use pen and paper'

Maths is easier handwritten, ditto a lot of science.
English Language you want/need to scribble on the text.
People want to do mind maps for planning answers.

otoh DD's college course (well not hers the next level up that hopefully she will get to) has computer based 'synoptic assessment'...

Functional Maths already has online exams. If delivering intensive courses, it can take as long to teach how to use the software effectively as to teach the Maths content. Some people with learning difficulties and other issues find the format disadvantageous. Otherwise, though online tests work reasonably well for these limited specifications, it would be impossible to adapt them to deal with more advanced mathematics. One problem that could arise is that the specification itself might become limited by what could be tested effectively. Another is that perfectly able candidates might be limited by what they can express in their responses.

Computer based testing is far more reflective of the real life current world we live in. Tweaks and adjustments will be required, but the exam bodies will find a way to address the issues raised and to do things differently going forward, and it will work out.

As a PP stated, why do exams need to be sat in the actual school and not at a specific exam centre etc?

Maybe there will be a blend of computer assessment and also some continued teacher assessment which doesn't need to be computerised?

@NotBabiesForLong

Maybe there will be a blend of computer assessment and also some continued teacher assessment which doesn't need to be computerised?

I hope not!

I'm a maths teacher. Typing maths on a computer actually interferes with the ability to do the maths because you're too busy thinking about how to type it to be able to think properly about the question.

This really is just a practice thing. I can type/do equations in word not far off the speed I can hand write them. Once you know the shortcuts is not that hard, but we dont start kids young enough because theres no need.

@NotBabiesForLong

Computer based testing is far more reflective of the real life current world we live in. Tweaks and adjustments will be required, but the exam bodies will find a way to address the issues raised and to do things differently going forward, and it will work out.

As a PP stated, why do exams need to be sat in the actual school and not at a specific exam centre etc?

I'm not sure I agree.

Fine for people who go into 'office jobs', but a fair % of pupils head into practical or verbal based routes. If we are going to change how pupils are assessed why not expand out to allow for a wider range of assessment?

Computer based tests have lots of advantages for accessibility too as you can change background and text colours/sizes, use magnifying tools and screen readers, configuration can be built into the test to amend the format/content to accommodate different needs like extra time, alternative wording and such.

This is already available for gcse

@Caramellatteplease

I'm a maths teacher. Typing maths on a computer actually interferes with the ability to do the maths because you're too busy thinking about how to type it to be able to think properly about the question.

This really is just a practice thing. I can type/do equations in word not far off the speed I can hand write them. Once you know the shortcuts is not that hard, but we dont start kids young enough because theres no need.

Really? How do you do the carry overs for column addition, or the cancelling of fractions, or the drawing pictures to help you understand the question, or bus stop/ long/short (whichever you call it) division?

...or Napiers method for long multiplication?

I'm not disputing that you can use Word for writing equations etc, but I don't think it is really designed for on the fly solving of GCSE level maths questions.

cancelling of fractions pretty easy in word. Is neater and easier to spot when you make a mistake.

bus stop/ long/short (whichever you call it) division if I'm doing this I tend to be doing it with more complex numbers. It's been a while but from memory it's fine. I think you might find more kids become more comfortable using fraction notation

the drawing pictures to help you understand the question, still use a pen and paper for this. If I'm handing stuff in I might hand in a mix of both or take a scan/picture of handwritten work.

I just find it really really hard to imagine GCSE maths being done on computer by the lower 50% of pupils.
I find it easier to imagine degree level maths.

Anyway, maths is always an outlier in teaching.

No more writing on paper in the school
Hall? Seems a shame.

I don't think a maths exam would be in Word!

DS used an online platform to practise for ISEB. It had software built that allowed cancelling fractions, regrouping for calculations etc. I use a gamified maths platform with my class that allows them to draw diagrams to help with working.

The issue is that all this would need to be a common way of working so kids found it easy and natural- not a change of mode just for exams. Currently it isn't and, as demonstrated here, many teachers are wedded to paper, so it would take a long time to implement well.

It's not about being wedded to paper, it's about resources. We have 3 computer suites in my school. At any one time, 3 classes can be using computers. Out of, what, 40 ish classes? So, for it to be the students' normal way of working, to learn how to type faster than they can write for essay subjects, and to learn specialised software for maths and other subjects, we'd at least 25 more computer suites (allowing for some classes being in PE, drama, food etc).

There is literally no money for this.

as demonstrated here, many teachers are wedded to paper

Because, as pointed out, that’s what they have.

The world is evolving at a rate of knots the like of which we have never seen before.

If it is approached with an open mind, the possibilities are endless. Maybe scrap GCSE's altogether?

It’s not so much the closed-ness of the mind but the closed-ness of the government purse.

That said, it’s not maths teachers wedded to paper, it’s mathematicians. It’s how you do maths.

I can’t believe the pp who thinks Word Equation Editor is a good tool for typing maths. And to get that level of fluency in kids so that they could think about the maths rather than which button they need to press would take years.