Open Book Exams/Using Notes

[artalot]

I saw course averages go down when I allowed completely open note and open book exams. Some students just weren't studying and you can't look up all of the answers in 50 minutes. I allow a note card now, it's a good way of getting them to study. Many don't actually use the card; they just like to have it.

[apl68]

I saw course averages go down when I allowed completely open note and open book exams. Some students just weren't studying and you can't look up all of the answers in 50 minutes. I allow a note card now, it's a good way of getting them to study. Many don't actually use the card; they just like to have it.

That's weird.  They thought that "open book exam" meant you didn't need to study at all?

[kaysixteen]

You are right-- I care little about whether an unprepared I blew off everything student flunks his test, and I never allow open book exams (I did have a VAP in '06 where the professor gave take-home exams in Latin 101, and I was supposed to do so as well in Latin 102-- the school, a secular private third-tier local SLAC, prided itself on its honor code (all graded stuff had to have an honor code compliance statement line on it for students to sign).  But Latin has to be memorized, to a large extent, and using books in a test ain't the way to ensure that is being done.  I do not know how many students, all having signed off on the honor code line, cheated anyhow, and the next 5th tier slac I worked for (actually a Catholic one) had no such honor code, and endemic, almost prideful cheating.

And, as I said above, like it or not, some things have to be memorized.