I’m so glad I did my finals in 2020 when my college was completely unprepared for the sudden switch to online. I was able to open book my whole last load of classes.
My academic institution took the more sensible approach of just making the exams open book, and adjusting the questions to demonstrate understanding and application of the concepts, rather than just recite stuff.
demonstrate understanding and application of the concepts, rather than just recite stuff
That’s how it should be anyway. I suspect the only reason all schools don’t do it that way is that it would cause too many students (and teachers) to fail.
You wouldn’t believe how difficult they are to mark. The basic skills of penmanship and sentence construction have fallen through the floor. 20% of students in my last class didn’t even attempt the short answer section on an exam that was otherwise multiple choice.
Wasn’t official policy but that’s what I did for my class. It’s the only reasonable way, except now I’m getting AI slop answers sometimes, which fortunately isn’t too hard to spot.
It’s amusing to me because back in 2006 when I went to college, I was the only person in class taking notes on my dinky 10" notebook laptop and I loved not having to carry around ridiculous amounts of bulky folders and paper. Nowadays, I have a 2-in-1 laptop and use a stylus to take notes instead!
Nowadays, I have a 2-in-1 laptop and use a stylus to take notes instead!
I also have one, and it’s cool. But, but! Have you tried a fountain pen? I mean, I may be weird, but it’s kind of cool. But I really, really should invest into some better paper. Regular paper seems OK, but something better… would be… better.
Though I did have some luck with certain cheap notebooks from Papírny Brno. The ones that have smoother, white paper. Not the darker, coarse, recycled stuff.
And that’s even with that cheap paper (though most paper won’t show any sheen at all). Better paper would likely show more sheening, especially in combination with wetter pen, but I don’t know where to get it.
Although… the Skull & Roses dries a bit too quickly. If you stop writing for a bit, it dries in a few seconds in the nib, and won’t write anymore.
Another issue is that the ink can be a bit distracting. I like to watch it dry, I like to write with it, I like to look at the sheen which makes me angle it under light to see it better. So I just end up scribbling something, and look at it, and my mind is gone.
Unfortunately we do most stuff on computers, so I don’t get to write much.
I think it’s easy to get caught up in the negative news that naturally floats to the top of most algorithms these days.
Primary and secondary schools are doing a lot more than they used to, and with an ever decreasing budget too. The quality of teaching is largely better, and the teaching career is becoming more “professionalised” by the year, for better or for worse - the constant wave of bureaucracy surround evidencing decision making and CPD is driving loads of great teachers away from the profession.
I’ve gone back to higher education and I’ve been surprised at the sheer range of support networks and services available to those who need them. I’m lucky enough to largely have my shit together (even if it is held together with sellotape, chewing gum, and prayers) - but there’s not many places I could turn to and access a range of guidance and support nowadays. As usual though, most of these ideas and developments have been written in blood after failings have been exposed in the past, which is a huge shame. Even socio-economic barriers are starting to be broken down - I’m getting spanked monthly for tuition fees but I’ve applied for grants that I’m ethically not entitled to and I’ve been given them no questions asked.
That said, the problems are outside the school these days. Mobile phones and social media are the big driver of this - in my day (and I’m decidedly middle age - not young, not old) if you were having a hard time; getting grief off bullies; or made an embarrassing fuckup… that was it, it stopped at 3:15pm and it would have been old news by 9am. Now, shit follows you home and shit sticks when digital media exists of it. It’s fucking horrendous from that aspect and I think now the genie is out of the bottle, only education and common sense can mitigate it - both of which are bottom of your interest list when you’re in your teens!
In short, school experiences seem to be trending upwards, but outside of school is a lot more hairy.
Computer classes were AWESOME when we’re on Windows XP and they just taught basic computer skills and typing. I had a war for the desktop background with a kid from another class. They always switched it to something they wanted, but it was MY station, dangit!
…so I edited the registry to remove the background tab from display settings. I WIN!
This country doesn’t want to pay teachers so it’s using technology to fill the gap. It’s not being used to enhance the education. It’s being used to keep costs low. It’s like using a self checkout camera. Sure, some people will still steal stuff. You’re not actually trying to prevent all of that. You’re just trying to lower that amount of theft so it’s less than hiring a cashier. The teachers suffer and the students suffer for it.
But this country is also not interested in having well educated people capable of critical thinking. I believe I’m paraphrasing Carlin now. But it just wants obedient workers.
I’m so glad I went to school before laptops existed.
I’m so glad I did my finals in 2020 when my college was completely unprepared for the sudden switch to online. I was able to open book my whole last load of classes.
My academic institution took the more sensible approach of just making the exams open book, and adjusting the questions to demonstrate understanding and application of the concepts, rather than just recite stuff.
That’s how it should be anyway. I suspect the only reason all schools don’t do it that way is that it would cause too many students (and teachers) to fail.
You wouldn’t believe how difficult they are to mark. The basic skills of penmanship and sentence construction have fallen through the floor. 20% of students in my last class didn’t even attempt the short answer section on an exam that was otherwise multiple choice.
What subject, and was it time limited? If there was any chance of not finishing in time I’d probably leave those until last.
Neuroscience and basically no time limit. 50 marks in a 3 hour night class and I tell them I’ll stay as long as they need.
Wasn’t official policy but that’s what I did for my class. It’s the only reasonable way, except now I’m getting AI slop answers sometimes, which fortunately isn’t too hard to spot.
Imagine high school with social media and deepfakes. I couldn’t be happier to have missed out on that.
It’s amusing to me because back in 2006 when I went to college, I was the only person in class taking notes on my dinky 10" notebook laptop and I loved not having to carry around ridiculous amounts of bulky folders and paper. Nowadays, I have a 2-in-1 laptop and use a stylus to take notes instead!
I also have one, and it’s cool. But, but! Have you tried a fountain pen? I mean, I may be weird, but it’s kind of cool. But I really, really should invest into some better paper. Regular paper seems OK, but something better… would be… better.
Though I did have some luck with certain cheap notebooks from Papírny Brno. The ones that have smoother, white paper. Not the darker, coarse, recycled stuff.
And that’s even with that cheap paper (though most paper won’t show any sheen at all). Better paper would likely show more sheening, especially in combination with wetter pen, but I don’t know where to get it.
Although… the Skull & Roses dries a bit too quickly. If you stop writing for a bit, it dries in a few seconds in the nib, and won’t write anymore.
Another issue is that the ink can be a bit distracting. I like to watch it dry, I like to write with it, I like to look at the sheen which makes me angle it under light to see it better. So I just end up scribbling something, and look at it, and my mind is gone.
Unfortunately we do most stuff on computers, so I don’t get to write much.
This is for you, just for geeking out about ink and paper ❤️ have some Lemmy Gold 🪙
Seriously school sounds like it fucking SUCKS now. School sucked when I was in high school but it seems like it REALLY sucks now
I think it’s easy to get caught up in the negative news that naturally floats to the top of most algorithms these days.
Primary and secondary schools are doing a lot more than they used to, and with an ever decreasing budget too. The quality of teaching is largely better, and the teaching career is becoming more “professionalised” by the year, for better or for worse - the constant wave of bureaucracy surround evidencing decision making and CPD is driving loads of great teachers away from the profession.
I’ve gone back to higher education and I’ve been surprised at the sheer range of support networks and services available to those who need them. I’m lucky enough to largely have my shit together (even if it is held together with sellotape, chewing gum, and prayers) - but there’s not many places I could turn to and access a range of guidance and support nowadays. As usual though, most of these ideas and developments have been written in blood after failings have been exposed in the past, which is a huge shame. Even socio-economic barriers are starting to be broken down - I’m getting spanked monthly for tuition fees but I’ve applied for grants that I’m ethically not entitled to and I’ve been given them no questions asked.
That said, the problems are outside the school these days. Mobile phones and social media are the big driver of this - in my day (and I’m decidedly middle age - not young, not old) if you were having a hard time; getting grief off bullies; or made an embarrassing fuckup… that was it, it stopped at 3:15pm and it would have been old news by 9am. Now, shit follows you home and shit sticks when digital media exists of it. It’s fucking horrendous from that aspect and I think now the genie is out of the bottle, only education and common sense can mitigate it - both of which are bottom of your interest list when you’re in your teens!
In short, school experiences seem to be trending upwards, but outside of school is a lot more hairy.
As always, YMMV and I’m in the UK.
Wish I could say the same for America
Computer classes were AWESOME when we’re on Windows XP and they just taught basic computer skills and typing. I had a war for the desktop background with a kid from another class. They always switched it to something they wanted, but it was MY station, dangit!
…so I edited the registry to remove the background tab from display settings. I WIN!
Hey I had that when I was a kid! Did they just stop teaching computer literacy to kids at some point?
This country doesn’t want to pay teachers so it’s using technology to fill the gap. It’s not being used to enhance the education. It’s being used to keep costs low. It’s like using a self checkout camera. Sure, some people will still steal stuff. You’re not actually trying to prevent all of that. You’re just trying to lower that amount of theft so it’s less than hiring a cashier. The teachers suffer and the students suffer for it.
But this country is also not interested in having well educated people capable of critical thinking. I believe I’m paraphrasing Carlin now. But it just wants obedient workers.