Friday. Seventh period. Integrated math 1. (Read: algebra 1.)
The plan was for them to do their study guide for a half hour, then I'd go over those answers, and then they'd take their test. While they were working on their study guide, I texted the teacher with the names of all the students (nine of them!) who were absent.
No one had any questions about the study guide. So, then it was time to start the test. I collected their work, and they went to get computers.
The test was online.
Dr. R wanted the names of those absent so she only had open tests for those students who were in class. (Absent students could access the test from computers at home, but at home we couldn't guarantee the students weren't using notes or their phones or someone else was doing the test for them.)
Once they got logged in, a student called me over. Her test was paused. It turned out she was on my absent list. (Which, seriously? I called out the roll. Was she not paying attention when I called her name?) So, I texted Dr. R to open her test.
Whew. Class was quiet. Phones were put away. Things were going well...
Sterling approached. His test had been paused. He showed me that when he tried to input a plus sign, he instead got a new screen. And because it was a test, the computer only allowed one screen and one tab open while the test was being done.
I texted Dr. R. Sterling continued working on his test...
A few minutes later, another problem. Sterling wanted to backspace to fix something he had mistyped, only backspace wasn't working. Deep sigh.
I had Sterling get another computer. Clearly the one he had was glitching (or he hit something that was disrupting things), and I wasn't going to be able to fix it. So, I had to text Dr. R one more time...
It was after school when I saw her final response. That she had opened Sterling's test twice. (I got busy with class stuff so I wasn't looking at my phone.)
I made sure to send along an explanation for what happened. Tech issues. Always gets us.
This is one reason why the math teachers don't usually give tests while they're out. (Well, those teachers who do the online tests. Some teachers still do tests on paper.)
Goodness! That was a whole lot of stuff to handle. Tech issues can be really crazy. Sometimes, the good old pen and paper is the best.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, definitely.
DeleteSo much more complicated than it used to be, isn’t it?
ReplyDeleteIn some cases. Here, definitely. (Some things the tech makes easier.)
Deletethecontemplativecat here. Covid hit the education system hard. My daughter taught middle school at the time, and their computer time was never certain. Now, students are trying to recover from the lost education time.
ReplyDeleteYes they are.
DeleteSounds like the paper tests would have been less of a problem.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, definitely.
DeleteTech makes everything easier, except when it doesn't!
ReplyDeleteVery true.
DeleteSounds like it was all a big pain. That was a lot of absent students too!
ReplyDeleteYes, that was a lot of absences.
DeleteSchool sure change since I was there.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with all these comments. Best wishes to you and your students, my dear.
ReplyDeleteSubjects like math should have tests on paper, I think. With all those signs and symbols and what not.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!
DeleteIntegrated math.
ReplyDeleteHow diverse.
Sorry, my mind goes to goofy on occasion.
For what it's worth, though.....in all things (and especially math) computers are great tools. Until they are not. Meaning, the boomer in me prefers work on paper.
ReplyDeleteRelated: when I fly, I always print out a paper boarding ticket. Mind you, I also have the pass on my wallet on my phone which I prefer to use. But....if my phone craps out or for some reason or I can't display it, I have old fashioned back-up.
Also related, I have road maps in my car. Never have used them. But, if Waze or Google Maps go all wonky...
Like I said. Boomer.
I am reminded of an Isaac Asimov story called "The Feeling of Power" written in the 1950's, telling of a time when we had become so dependent on computers (the year is not specified, as I recall) that arithmetic done by hand has been totally forgotten. But then, someone rediscovers that art. Well, we are almost there. Nice that paper tests still exist, but how long will that last? I have an old fashioned philosophy: just because technology can do something for us doesn't mean we should adopt it without a lot of thought and testing out.
ReplyDeleteWe're not quite there yet. While this teacher does the tests online, in the next year, there's a teacher who does all his tests on paper. Not all the teachers do the online. The bonus of the online: it grades it for them. Grading takes a lot of time...
DeleteI'm really surprised a teacher would give a test when they're not there. That sounds unnecessarily stressful. I wonder if the 8 absences were all due to sickness. That sounds like a crazy number.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a headache for everyone involved, the students and teachers. Sounds like paper would be far easier. That seems like a large number of kids to be absent. Was it because they knew they were scheduled to have a test? Also seems like the teacher didn't have much of a day off, or sick day or whatever it was if she needed to be available to fix all those problems.
ReplyDeleteThe online would work just fine if she was there, but yeah, on paper for the sub. As for the absences... I don't know. It could be it was the last period on a Friday. It could be that kind of class does have the students who are more likely to ditch. Or it could be time of year (more of them were actually sick). Who knows?
DeleteIn our time it was always on paper. All the tests. How uncomplicated.
ReplyDelete