Really sucks for people with disabilities and handwriting issues.
My handwriting has always been terrible. It was a big issue in school until I was able to turn in printed assignments.
Like with a lot of school things, they do a shit thing without thinking about negative effects. They always want a simple solution to a complex problem.
My uni just had people with handwriting issues do the exam in a separate room with a writer for you to narrate answers to.
People have been going to universities for millennia before the advent of computers, we have lots of ways to help people with disabilities that don’t require computers.
What should they do then?
Most schools have computer labs. Software capable of temporarily locking down a computer so you can’t use it for anything other than a test exists. Seems pretty simple to me.
Still need to proctor them because people have phones
They can accommodate those people
It does, but hopefully thats what competent accomodation policies are for
I did my undergrad 2008-2012, we had zero online exams. Every exam was in person and hand written. People with disabilities were accommodated, usually with extra writing time for those that need it, or a separate room with a writer for you to narrate to.
It’s really not a terrible issue, and something universities have been able to deal with for centuries.
Mine was even a bit before that and had a similar experience. However we were able to type up reports and essays which was great. My handwriting isn’t very good and I’m much faster at typing.
Handwriting an essay means I’m giving 90% of my energy and time to drawing ugly squiggles and 10% to making a sensible argument. If I’m allowed to use a computer, it’s 99% sensible argument and 1% typing. Surely this will not have any impact on the quality of the text the teachers have to read…
I agree, I think a good compromise like school owned, locked down devices would still achieve the same thing
Mugmoor@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
It’s always sucked for them, and it always will. That’s why we make accommodations for them, like extra time or a smaller/move private exam hall.
Instigate@aussie.zone 1 year ago
And readers/scribes! I’ve read and scribed for a friend who had dyslexia in one of her exams and it worked really well. She finished the exam with time to spare and got a distinction in the subject!
Tavarin@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Yep, my girlfriend acted as a scribe for disabled students at a university. She loved it, and the students were able to complete their written work and courses just fine as a result.