Horray! No more written portion on Alberta Diploma Math and Sciences (Chemistry, Physics and Biology) exams that account for 50% of a student’s final grade in that course and on top of that, are supposedly designed to test student’s full understanding of the contents of those courses. This recent change occured without any consultation from teachers. It will save the government approximately $1.5 million of the $12 million that it’s currently costing them.
On top of that, new changes to the province’s math curriculum will be focusing more on the process of how to get to the answer than the actual answer itself.
Furthermore, the government still deems it necessary to weigh a 2 hour examination’s mark equal to the amount of work that a student does in 4 months. Finally, despite much discontent from students, parents and teachers, the government does not seem to be planning on making any changes to this new format.
If you want to get involved and learn more, check out Real Learning First that discusses student testing in Alberta.
I wish everyone who is taking their Alberta Diploma Exams this year good luck!
I like the photo that you used. I think it's hilarious! : )
But yeah. I don't know. Although I generally score better on multiple choice exams, having a written seems to make a lot more sense. What better way is there to show understanding besides a written answer formed from the student's own words? This seemed to be a really sudden decision; I don't think the government should be able to make such a major change to education without consulting students, teachers, and parents. (But really, students especially. We /are/ the ones writing the exam after all…)
[Sorry, rambled more than I meant to. Cheers!]