As Queen Mary do not have any design based courses this is not something
we've had to deal with as yet, but I don't suppose it'll be that long
before someone brings this up.
Assuming we are talking about students using a computer in exams to word
process their exam scripts, I think its pushing it for someone to say
that they need a Mac given that they'll probably be using Word whichever
platform they're using. I'm not a Mac user myself, but have seen Word on
the Mac and it didn't seem fundamentally different to the PC version. As
students are unlikely to be allowed to use functions like the spell
checker in an exam then I don't think the argument that they need an
Apple over a PC to type their answers would really wash.
We have a pool of loan equipment for students and I have considered
buying some Powerbooks to augment this, but given their relative expense
over PC equivalents and the likely response from the students - 'why
can't I have a Mac if he got one?' - I have decided against it for now.
Simon
Natalya Dell wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I'm interested in thoughts as well as experience/practice on this one
> as it keeps coming up more and more.
>
> If a student has a mac provided through DSA or equivalent for whatever
> reason (accessibility/preference etc) how do other FE/HE institutions
> handle exam provision where they need to use a computer? What happens
> if the student expresses a strong preference, or indeed inability to
> use the usual Windows PCs?
>
> If your institution has no macs in the department or generally
> available do you provide macs for exams some other way?
>
> Those of you who have equipment loan schemes for disabled students,
> especially where laptops can be lent out, do you have any macs in there?
>
> I'm happy for replies on or off list.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Natalya Dell - Disability Resource Assistant, University of Birmingham.
--
Simon Jarvis
Head of Disability & Dyslexia Service
Queen Mary University of London
Student and Campus Services
Room FB 2.30, Francis Bancroft
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Tel: 020 7882 2765
Fax: 020 7882 5223
www.scs.qmul.ac.uk
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