Thanks, some good ideas here!
Janet Hancey
Student Information Manager Ext 5104
Queen Mary's College
T 01256 417519 - Exams office direct line
T 01256 417500 - Main Switchboard
F 01256 417525 - Exams office direct fax
www.qmc.ac.uk<http://www.qmc.ac.uk/>
The exam office is open:
Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of GranthamA - Exams Officer
Sent: 18 January 2017 16:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Invigilator Training
Hi Janet
I always try to think of new things too so it doesn't become boring for them.
Ideas
* Quizzes
* Table top workshops to resolve issues (normally things that have happened in a previous exam season that should have been done differently)
Some things I have done
a) Invigilators were rushing to get papers and standing with their backs to the students in the trial exam. I nagged and nagged about it, every briefing as I knew it had to be sorted before the real exams but I just couldn't get any headway, so at the next refresher training, I set up a mock exam room of about 8 chairs - stuck in some pre-prepped Invigilators as students (including me) and then got my 2 lead invigilators to be the lead in the room. They had strict instructions they had to have their backs to the rest of us when they got the papers. I had people going to the loo and asking for extra paper etc too. Then when the Invigilators' backs were facing us, I swapped places with the girl sitting next to me
As a result I no longer have any issue about backs facing students :), It was an enjoyable session with Invigilators spotting all the 'wrong' things and comments of = that was great, what are we doing next time. The two Lead Invigilators fed back too and their comments were that they actually
Did not see us change places, although they knew it was happening. That was an eye opener to the rest of the team too.
b) A Group workshop on malpractice where we discussed student, invigilator and centre malpractice issues worked really, really well and I had lots of comments afterwards on how they enjoyed it and learnt something as I had them all saying what they should and should not
And an Invigilator training session is never complete without a formal fire alarm. Keeping them from not laughing and going back for their handbags is difficult but we are working on it
I was also suffering considerably at one point with Invigilators emailing me on the day/day before a live exam cancelling a session. They had no idea of the problems it caused so I gave them a workshop on my role. I gave them a dummy timetable of a couple of exams, a list of around 8 Invigilators and told them to assign them into slots, taking care to ensure the correct ratio was adhered to at all times etc. Then I had a big bell and after a few mins rang it to say a particular Invigilator's initials could no longer work as they had a dentist appointment. A few mins later, same thing with another reason. I worked it so there were not then enough Invigilators to cover the small timetable I had given them.
At the end of an allotted time I asked for their solutions. All were despondent - we cant do it there aren't enough Invigilators was the main comment. Exactly - point made. We then had a discussion on how late cancellations had such an effect on me and potentially the school too and how we needed to limit these as much as possible. Whilst it wasn't a JCQ normal training requirement, it certainly got my problem across and I am pleased to say the number of cancellations dramatically reduced. They also made comments of how they didn't understand how difficult it was to be fair to all and get everything correct to accommodate board requirements so it stopped some moaning too.
Hope some of the above helps and if you have any ideas I'd love to hear from them as I struggle to think of ways to make things different too.
Good luck
Anna
Mrs Anna Grantham
Examinations Officer
Hinchingbrooke School
Telephone: 01480 375700 Ext 5706
From: The FE Exams Network mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Janet Hancey
Sent: 18 January 2017 15:48
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Invigilator Training
Hi all
Every year I try to think of new ideas for invigilator training and am struggling to think of something innovative this year. I wondered if anyone had ideas rather than just a presentation if they would share!
Thanks.
Janet Hancey
Student Information Manager Ext 5104
Queen Mary's College
T 01256 417519 - Exams office direct line
T 01256 417500 - Main Switchboard
F 01256 417525 - Exams office direct fax
www.qmc.ac.uk<http://www.qmc.ac.uk/>
The exam office is open:
Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm
