I have tried explaining to students the different options and the escalating difficulty within a department in providing them. Most students can then self-assess quite accurately (in my opinion) and suggest going for a room with a small number of other people rather than a room on their own, which is what they may have initially been asking for.
Sebastian
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Natalya Dell
Sent: 02 August 2012 17:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DIS-FORUM] Individual rooms for exams
On 02/08/12 11:44, Bryan Jones wrote:
> Assessors should not be making such specific recommendations for
> exams,
I do find in general that exams are the part of the DSA report which are least 'wanted as written' by the students (even when I'm sure the assessor has tried to get them to confirm they're OK or not with it).
Some of this is because the student doesn't know what there is before they arrive or what will work for them and some is having had time to consider it. With many first years I'll set a date in January to decide what exam arrangements they want after they've had a chance to study a while. I also remind them first year exams aren't carried into final degree so we can make changes up or down.
Several of our schools also struggle with the numbers of departmental sits which is not just students needing a room alone but combinations of arrangements which our central team can't accommodate.
I always discuss exam arrangements with the student and if it says separate room I'll try and explore why they're asking for that so I can see if any of our other options are more suitable. It helps that I can honestly advise the student that centrally managed alternative exam arrangements are much more consistently well implemented than departmental stuff which can be (unavoidably) variable from background noise, information provision or even the occasiona shoddy invigilator.
Most students are happy with a smaller venue than the main hall so the extra time or rest breaks venue. Some would be OK in department with a handful of other students. It's comparatively rare that a student needs a room totally alone.
There is also discussion of reducing the amount of "assessment by exams"
overall because it's increasingly being seen as old fashioned and only assessing certain things.
Natalya
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