Thursday, May 17, 2018

Keeping Them Straight


I don't often cover Spanish classes as I didn't take Spanish in school, so I was rather grateful that the class had a test. Well, actually, they had two tests.

The first test was to be taken on the computer. The second test was written.

For the first test, I distributed the Chromebooks. They logged into the textbook's website and did that exam. Then I had them return the Chromebooks before I'd give them the paper for the second test.

If you take a look at the classroom setup above, you'll notice that some of those desks are right next to one another. Because of this, the teacher had two different written tests, an A test and a B test. It was my job to make sure that students sitting next to each other got different tests.

What could possibly go wrong?

Well, students finished their computerized test at different rates. As they returned the Chromebooks, I had to determine which written test to give them. I decided that desks on the left of the pair would get the A test and desks on the right would get the B test. I just had to keep track of where they came from.

Yeah, well... About half the class I watched get up. The other half I had to ask where they were seated. And with how the room was situated, you know I did screw up. At least I only messed up once. Which put three boys in a row with A tests...

Ah well.

I was bound and determined to figure out a way to not screw up again with the next class.

Then it hit me. The students weren't assigned specific computers (in some classes they are, but not in this case). All I had to do was give students who'd get the A test the odd numbered computers and give students who'd get the B test the even numbered computers. It's not like they'd notice...

And it worked. For every student who I hadn't seen where their seat was, all I had to do was ask what number computer they had.

Sometimes the solution is simple. Sort of.

25 comments:

  1. Brilliant idea!! Glad it only took one extra class to come up with it!

    betty

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  2. You made it work even if my mind is now screwed up:)

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    1. *whispers* It was a slow week bad kid wise, so I was stuck writing about stuff like this /*whispers*

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  3. Just remember not to show weakness. It was part of the plan all along.

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  4. Smart lady!!! I wouldn't have thought of that :)

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    1. Necessity. Given the opportunity, you might have.

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  5. Sometimes the simple way of doing things is the hardest to come up with....esp if you over think it like I do at times.

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  6. Clever lady. What a great idea.

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  7. A perfect solution, Liz! Even and odd numbers. That's how we were allowed to purchase gas in the 1970s when there was a supposed gas shortage. We went by the last digit. No problemo. :-)

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  8. My Japanese instructor has Test A and Test B for all tests and quizzes. It's fine as I don't cheat. It's a drag when we get our tests back and I want to confer with my seatmate.

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    1. Most of the time, the difference between test A and test B is the order of the questions. The questions themselves tend to be the same. (Don't tell anyone I told you.)

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  9. Haha, the world is getting more complex every day!
    I remember a teacher who handed out A and B tests. Us students only hesitated for a short while until stealthily passing on our test sheets to the next A-person ;-)))

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  10. Good one! Glad it worked. Sometimes solutions are that simple, is it not?!

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    1. Sometimes. Of course, figuring out the simple solution isn't always that simple ;)

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  11. Those are the weird, think on your feet problems that nothing can really prepared you for.

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