VCE exams to be done on computer?

[pi]

VCAA Source

My interpretation of that is that instead of a CAS, a computer with CAS software or something (Wolfram, etc.) will be used.

I don't think the exam itself is going to be answered on the computer?

[MJRomeo81]

Cloud computing can save your exam sessions so that hardware breakages means all is not lost

I understand that. I was referring to the psychological trauma it can cause a student. i.e. by the time the system administrators get you on a spare machine and have you login, the student has totally freaked out and it will have an impact on their final result.

What are the advantages of completing a methods exam on a PC for students? English would be the only exception imo. But obviously you would have to get the students to type in an environment with no spell checkers / thesaurus at their disposal.

[thushan]

My interpretation of that is that instead of a CAS, a computer with CAS software or something (Wolfram, etc.) will be used.

I don't think the exam itself is going to be answered on the computer?

The exam itself will be answered on the computer.

[psyxwar]

The exam itself will be answered on the computer.

Wouldn't that just prove to be a disadvantage for those taking it on PC?

[Lasercookie]

http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vce/studies/mathematics/cas/castrial.aspx

That page just says for the ER section of Exam 2, using Mathematica.

[walkec]

I really hope they stay with pens and paper. Yes trees die to be made into paper, but I think there would be a greater environmental impact having to manufacture and alter thousands of computers just so Vce students can sit their exams.

[Professor Polonsky]

[A]nd the trial will culminate with digital delivery and response to the extended answer section of Mathematical Methods (CAS) Examination 2 in 2013, for participating students from trial schools.

[Stick]

I'm not sure if Methods is the right subject for this. There are some subjects which I think could work very well on a computer, however, so I'm a bit surprised they haven't chosen another subject.

[BoredSatan]

a terrible idea by VCAA.. Too many things go wrong with computers ie. crashing, cheating etc. Pen and Paper is still my vote

[IndefatigableLover]

a terrible idea by VCAA.. Too many things go wrong with computers ie. crashing, cheating etc. Pen and Paper is still my vote

Agreed.

I don't see the reason to move onto exams being done on computer (other than saving trees) but the change will definitely affect the student mentally. Also if it does move onto subjects to say English then how many words they can write in a minute will cause a slight problem considering we are a generation who types (E.g Facebook) rather than writes so our typing speed is faster than our handwriting speed >.<

[watto_22]

One guy at my school had 'special considerations' for his exams last year.
Apparently his wrist was really sore or something so he couldn't write with a pen.
Anyway, he went on to get 50 for English and 48 for Philosophy, two subjects that really benefit from writing (typing) more. Apparently he wrote about 5000 words all up for his English exam.
There is no way to prove it, but you question how well he would have done if he hadn't had these special allowances.
Controversial.

Anyway,

Surely if the whole state did 'essay' subjects on computers, like English & Philo & Classics & Revs & Lit, and even subjects that just have short answer questions, such as Politics & Legal, then the general volume and standard of responses would be enhanced and I think this would be a good thing for all. As students, we can fit more into our responses and not worry so much about time. For exam markers, there is more to read and reward.

Doing these exams on computer would remove issues relating to illegible handwriting, and place more emphasis on writing ability and not just your hand's stamina. For these reasons I think there is a place for some subjects' exams to be done on computer.

Meanwhile, I think maths and chemistry are definitely still best suited to pen&paper exams. (Just try and do Short Answer #3a and #3d from this year's Unit 3 Chem exam using only your laptop!  -  http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/chemistry/2012/2012chem1-w.pdf)

[Yendall]

I couldn't think of anything worse than entering data on CAS emulation software. Ugh. I use it when I need to take screenshots etc. but having a calculator in your hands is much easier to navigate and a lot faster imo.

I can see subjects like Literature, English and other essay based subjects becoming a computer-based examination due to the excessive amounts of computer use that has come about in the last half-decade. A lot of people will be forgetting how to write fluently because of technology. Obviously not current high-school students, but possibly primary school students who already own an iPad, iPhone and laptop.
Also with a computer-based examination for Methods (CAS) it would make graphing a whole lot easier, which could potentially defeat the purpose of trying to perfect a graph by hand. I wouldn't know completely though.

[walkec]

One guy at my school had 'special considerations' for his exams last year.
Apparently his wrist was really sore or something so he couldn't write with a pen.
Anyway, he went on to get 50 for English and 48 for Philosophy, two subjects that really benefit from writing (typing) more. Apparently he wrote about 5000 words all up for his English exam.
There is no way to prove it, but you question how well he would have done if he hadn't had these special allowances.
Controversial.

Anyway,

Surely if the whole state did 'essay' subjects on computers, like English & Philo & Classics & Revs & Lit, and even subjects that just have short answer questions, such as Politics & Legal, then the general volume and standard of responses would be enhanced and I think this would be a good thing for all. As students, we can fit more into our responses and not worry so much about time. For exam markers, there is more to read and reward.

Doing these exams on computer would remove issues relating to illegible handwriting, and place more emphasis on writing ability and not just your hand's stamina. For these reasons I think there is a place for some subjects' exams to be done on computer.

Meanwhile, I think maths and chemistry are definitely still best suited to pen&paper exams. (Just try and do Short Answer #3a and #3d from this year's Unit 3 Chem exam using only your laptop!  -  http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Documents/exams/chemistry/2012/2012chem1-w.pdf)

I'm seeing both sides to you point watto_22. Special considerations can be for a whole range of reasons, so if anything it's to make the people who need the allowance of equal ability to the people who don't need it. For example, one of my best friends has special considerations for learning difficulties (I think he has dyslexia or something similar). He would honestly have a pretty low chance of doing alright if there were no special considerations.

But I like your point about handwriting, I got given an iPad for school last year and I try and use it as little as possible to keep my handwriting skills up for exams.

[MagicGecko]

Will the computers have a USB port in them? If so it would be pretty easy for a student to get a virus infested USB and plug it in the computer on the day of the exam and if it crashes well, the student can blame it on the comp and no one would ever know.....the perfect crime..

[FlorianK]

If they'd make the whole exam MC and you put your answers into the computer, you could now your percentage directly after the exam and that'd be pretty cool. You could have sheets of paper to do your working on, which wouldn't be assessed.