as a qualified and experienced scribe/amanuensis/notetaker, I have spent the
last year years scribing in higher education. I agree wholly with gerard -
writing on someones behalf is stressful for both parties and I believe the 50%
extra time should be the minimum for such situations.
this is yet another reason why I only advocate using professional scribes for
exams - whilst we may be more expensive to employ than undergraduates (which is
occurring more and more), it is better than having a stressed out student who
has to retake the exam due to failing.
unless the student is on a roll, I try to incorporate a five minute break every
hour. this enables both parties to have a loo break, gives the student an
opportunity to rest their voice and hopefully prevent me from developing RSI
hope this helps
melanie
melanie thorley
aspire disability project worker, notetaker and research student
blake 048
university of greenwich at medway
central avenue
chatham
kent
ME4 4TB
0208 331 8318
07931 226599
[log in to unmask]
Quoting Gerard Conroy <[log in to unmask]>:
> Harriet even for someone using an amanuensis at least 50% extra time is not
> unreasonable. I have been an amanuensis for someone and it is very
> stressful
> and time consuming on both parties. As the scribe I had to constantly
> interrupt the flow of ideas since I just could not keep up. I had to check
> frequently that what I had written correctly represented the views of the
> student. All of which broke up the student's concentration. I would never
> recommend less than 50% extra time. This brings us back to the timing
> issue,
> why is time important? There can be few subjects which need a timed
> response.
>
> Gerard Conroy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Harriet Cannon
> Sent: 18 December 2007 16:34
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Extra time for visually impaired students
>
> Hi Erin,
>
> The only time I've seen a 50% recommendation queried (also happens with
> 100% extra time recommendations) is when the student is also using a
> reader and/or amanuensis. The argument then has been that, if someone
> is there to read and/or write for the student, then they should not need
> the additional time. Even then, at least 25% is normally recommended to
> allow for the fact that getting someone to read to you or write for you
> is not always as quick as doing it yourself. Readers and amanuenses
> also need breaks building into the exam time, which depends on the
> length of the exam, but I think is something like one 10-15 min break
> for a three hour exam.
>
> 50% extra time is a pretty standard recommendation for our VI students.
>
> Harriet
>
> Harriet Cannon
>
> Disability Coordinator
> University of Leeds
> 0113 343 7538
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jackson, Erin
> Sent: 18 December 2007 14:34
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Extra time for visually impaired students
>
>
> Many thanks to all who replied, you were very helpful!
>
>
> Erin
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian F.
> Sent: 16 December 2007 23:00
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Extra time for visually impaired students
>
> Somewhere between 25% - 50% is common, depending on the effects of the
> visual impairment, the type of course and the strategies the student
> will
> use during the exam. Too much extra time in itself can cause further
> problems, especially if there are a few exams on the same day. Often
> eyesight tends to deteriorate with fatigue and exams are exhausting even
>
> without a disability. On the other hand, in some cases 100% extra time
> (or
> more) can be justified. Sometimes, no extra time might be a reasonable
> recommendation.
>
> A student who can read comfortably from enlarged print for long periods
> and
> can also sit and work at a computer with magnification for long periods
> might not need as much extra time (assuming these adjustments will be in
>
> place in the exam) as a student who requires braille, audio or
> electronic
> versions of papers and prepares answers using a computer and
> screenreader.
> Students who can use enlarged print / magnification but have a very
> restricted field of vision might need longer than those without this
> problem, to take into account how slow reading can be when you can only
> see
> one or two words at a time irrespective of how large the print is. Exams
>
> that require students to refer to diagrams, images, charts or tables
> might
> require more time than text-based papers.
>
> Maybe the original assessor can provide you with more details about why
> 50%
> exta time was requested in this particular case if it's not made clear
> in
> the assessment report. It's important that tutors understand why
> recommendations are being made so they are confident these are
> 'reasonable
> adjustments' that don't risk devaluing the exam process for the student
> (or
> for other students, if grades are calculated based on relative test
> scores).
> Assuming timed exams are a sensible way of testing people, of course ...
>
> Ian Francis
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Claire Wickham" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 5:13 PM
> Subject: Re: Extra time for visually impaired students
>
>
> > Yes, 50% does seem a standard recommendation...but why is the tutor
> > querying this? The extra time is usually justified on a combination of
>
> > additional time required for reading (questions and reading back
> answers)
> > and additional time required for writing the answers. It is true that
> the
> > time taken to perform these tasks is not measured and as a sector we
> can
> > be criticised for lack of evidence-based judgements but the 50% is
> > generally accepted practice.
> >
> > ATB
> >
> > Claire
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff.
> on
> > behalf of Jackson, Erin
> > Sent: Fri 14/12/2007 16:34
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Extra time for visually impaired students
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have had a query from a tutor on a 50% extra time recommendation for
> a
> > visually impaired student. I thought that this was a fairly standard
> > recommendation, and I wondered if anyone else had the same impression?
> >
> > The student's Assessment of Needs states 50%, would you query this?
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any advice!
> >
> > Erin
> >
> > Erin Jackson
> >
> > Disability Adviser
> > Student Services
> > University of Bolton
> > Deane Road
> > Bolton BL3 5AB
> > Tel: 01204 903087
> > Minicom: 01204 903490
> > www.bolton.ac.uk/disability
> > Please don't print off this email unless it's entirely necessary -
> save
> > the planet!
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
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> >
> >
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>
>
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