Category Archives: exams

Being Critical

Posted on 10 June 2018 by Athene Donald

When discussing the skills students pick up – and need to pick up – during their undergraduate courses in a subject like physics, I always highlight the fact that they learn how to be critical, notably about assumptions underpinning an … Continue reading →

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The Challenge of Taking Time Out

Posted on 23 June 2017 by Athene Donald

I have been marking exams. However much students may and do hate taking the exams themselves, marking is also a very stressful period for those of us who have to do it. We wish to do it with the utmost … Continue reading →

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Cheating in science — and life

Posted on 7 February 2015 by Steve Caplan

Not too long ago, one of my teenagers brought up an age-old ethical issue that recurs and festers, and at least theoretically, provides an opportunity for open discussion on “what do we want out of life?” The issue at stake, … Continue reading →

Posted in A grade, cheating, Chronicle of Higher Education, education, exams, getting ahead, medical schoolmath, Research, science, undergraduate education | Comments Off on Cheating in science — and life

Red Ink, Green Ink

Posted on 8 June 2012 by Athene Donald

Exam marking being much on my mind, as discussed in the last post, I was thinking about the way we annotate the scripts as we mark. The practice I am familiar with (although I have no idea how standard this … Continue reading →

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A sense of entitlement

Posted on 26 March 2011 by Steve Caplan

Some years ago when I was looking for a job, I had an interview at a university on the East Coast of the US. One of the search committee members picked me up, and on the way we had a … Continue reading →

Posted in attitude, easy-life, education, exams, feet-up-in-the-air, Research, science, students, where did we go wrong | Comments Off on A sense of entitlement