I would have thought that the use of labels in examinations is their
prime function. A student would need to have almost unlimited time for
an examination to use all their enabling technology succesfully.Even
with extra time a student still has to read, compose an answer and write
this out - all of which involve the difficulties a student may be
experiencing. The label would alert a marker to poor structure,
organisation and spelling. Poor structure needs time and efficient proof
reading to correct, usually human support from a study skills tutor is
reqired, support and time that is not available. 

The use of labels on other work is somewhat contentious, the argument
being that the student can use all their support, both human support and
enabling technology to produce a piece of work and therefore doesn't
need the label!

Personally unless the piece of work demanded a student response without
the use of support (and this rarely happens)then I think a label should
be used here too. 



-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Quinn, Christine
Sent: 29 April 2005 10:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Identifying the work of dyslexic students

Our labels say something similar.  As you say, they do not affect a
student's grade or give a concession for spelling or grammar errors, but
they do alert the markers to the student's difficulties  and enable them
to give more detailed constructive criticism.  We can check label users
against our database as they are coded, which prevents fraudulent use.
We print our own labels.

Labels are not used in exams, except in very rare cases, as extra time
and other accommodations are made.

Chris


-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Polly Osborne
Sent: 29 April 2005 10:25
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Identifying the work of dyslexic students


Response to David Pollak's questions:

We have used labels on written work for several years. They say:

This student has specific learning difficulties which may adversely
affect his/her literacy skills. For more information contact Study
Assistance.

We cannot prevent someone passing a label on to a friend but would there
be any advantage? Use of a label does not change the marking criteria.
It merely alerts the examiner to possible weaknesses in use of language.
We order our labels from Able-label - you probably know their sizes.

I hope this is helpful.

Polly Osborne
Study Assistance Manager
Southampton Institute
Tel: 023 8031 9201




At DMU, we will be conducting a pilot in the autumn in two Faculties,
using stickers to identify dyslexic students' exam papers.

If you use such a system, my questions are:

o       What wording do you use?

o       How do you ensure that only the right students' work has
stickers
applied?

o       How big are the stickers and have you any tips about their
design/manufacture?

o       If you prefer a cover sheet to a sticker, why is that?

Many thanks for your time and any other relevant tips,

David Pollak

De Montfort University

(apologies for cross-posting from ADSHE)