The document discusses the challenges of technology in exams. It notes that phones, tablets, laptops and the internet have become ubiquitous, but exams still focus on recalling facts rather than skills needed in real life like finding and evaluating information. It suggests considering allowing technology in exams since students have limited time to search information, and addressing access issues for students without digital resources. Potential solutions proposed include open book exams, support for digitally disadvantaged students, and using data analytics to inform exam design.

1. Tech in exams - SQAAssessment ExpertGroup
Martin Hamilton
1Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 201729/06/2017

2. About Jisc
» edtech not-for-profit with ~18m users:
› Running shared services like Janet, eduroam and JiscMail
› Negotiating deals with IT vendors and publishers
› Providing advice & guidance
» Major initiatives right now in digital skills,
research data and learning analytics
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» My role:
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› Building partnerships to bring them to fruition
2Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 201729/06/2017
Photo CC BY-NC Flickr user feuilllu

3. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 3
»Phones

4. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 4
»Phones (and tablets, laptops etc)

5. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 5
»Phones (and tablets, laptops etc)
»The Internet

6. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 6
»Phones (and tablets, laptops etc)
»The Internet (Google,Wikipedia,
e-textbooks etc)

7. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 7
»Phones (and tablets, laptops etc)
»The Internet (Google,Wikipedia,
e-textbooks etc)
»Exams

8. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 8
»Phones (and tablets, laptops etc)
»The Internet (Google,Wikipedia,
e-textbooks etc)
»Exams (and other high stakes
standardised tests)

9. 1. What is the big thing?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 9
»Phones (and tablets, laptops etc)
»The Internet (Google,Wikipedia,
e-textbooks etc)
»Exams (and other high stakes
standardised tests)
› It’s time to think about tech in
exams

10. 2. Why is it important?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 10
»We are testing ability to recall and
regurgitate facts as though it
mattered

11. 2. Why is it important?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 11
»We are testing ability to recall and
regurgitate facts as though it
mattered
»In Real Life ™ we need to marshal
the available information and
construct persuasive arguments

12. 2. Why is it important?
29/06/2017 Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 2017 12
»We are testing ability to recall and
regurgitate facts as though it
mattered
»In Real Life ™ we need to marshal
the available information and
construct persuasive arguments
› How much can you really crib in
~20 minutes?

13. 3. What can we do to help address the challenge?
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»Open book exams
already in some
subjects
»Tech not universally
available - support for
the digitally
disadvantaged?
»Growing role for data &
analytics

14. That’s all folks!
14
Except where otherwise noted, this
work is licensed under CC-BY
Connect with me:
Martin Hamilton
Futurist, Jisc, London
@martin_hamilton
martin.hamilton@jisc.ac.uk
Tech in exams - SQA Assessment Expert Group - June 201729/06/2017