Don't the Brits Say Invigilate?

I'm getting a jump on tomorrow's entry by writing this on Tuesday evening. I'm at a front console in one of BCIT's many computer labs in good ol' NE1. There are two other computer labs being used by our department tonight.

This is a new experience for me. Although I have been involved in our program's placement exams for years, it has always been done on paper. Now, we are gathering information to see if www.accuplacer.com can give our department useful information on the proper classes in which to place students.

There was quite a bit of set up involved. First, we had to get here quite early to:

log on the BCIT network

open the browers and turn off the pop-up blocker

enter the Accuplacer site with ID and password

open to the correct test introduction, and finally,

plug in the headphones and adjust the volume level.

I must say the time is now going swimmingly. I'm able to check the screens when I walk to the back of the lab. It is easy to watch as the students complete each of these sections:

Reading Comprehension

Sentence Structures

One-hour multi-paragraph writing

Listening Comprehension Section.

I expect the computerized scoring of first two sections sections will tell us much more than the grammar part of our old paper exams. it may proved to be more accurate too. Trying to correct opscan sheets with a transparancy overlay can be a bit daunting after a really hard day. We will call up the writing and print to verify the actual content but even that will probably be easier than trying to figure out the handwriting.

Overall, doing the placement tests this way seems much more in tune with the goals of BCIT.