Re:Open Notes & Well-Designed Exams (Score 1)

Based on Slifox's first line it is obvious that the intent of any open book exam is not to teach the actual subject (whatever it is) but actually is teaching students how to search for all the information needed for the answer. If the student was a quick reader the student wouldn't have to know the subject, just how to find the appropriate information to formulate the answer. The problem with teach today is that it doesn't teach anything from what I call "First Principles". First Principles are the basic processes that one would use to determine the answer. As an example, today if a student needed to find the square root of 34 that student would get out the calculator, punch in the numbers and voila the answer. In this case the student just learned how to use the calculator and not the mathematics behind it. There is an actual "long hand" method that can be used to determine the square root of any number and that number is a First Principle and is what the student should learn and understand. If a student is taught and actually learns the "First Principles" of the subject they are taking then they will have the necessary knowledge to solve any of the problems pertaining to that subject and all areas of learning have a set of first principles which were developed before computers and calculators and other electronic devices. As for calculators they shouldn't be programmable and should only be capable of doing the math required for the exam. I should also like to point out that basing the mark on an exam question based on the accuracy of numbers is also wrong and flawed as that is what creates the need for such devices. It is actually imperative that the people who mark exams look at the processes used in obtaining the answer as that is what indicates that the student understands the requirements of the question. Making an error in the first number will always make the remaining calculations wrong even if they are done correctly. I guess what I am actually trying to say is that students' reliance in technology as an enabler in allowing them to answer problems and not learn the basic first principles will eventually result in a lack of ability to solve problems when technology is NOT available. As a side note, I have been working in industry for over 30 years and during that time I have had plenty of instances in which I have had to solve problems (logical and mathematical) without the ability to go look up some reference material for an answer so it was a good thing that I learned/memorized the knowledge I needed at the time.