[nabs-l] taking quizzes and tests

Wed Feb 6 01:10:00 UTC 2013

Hi Ashley,
It'd be worth asking your professor what her specific concerns are
about letting you take the quiz in class, and then responding to her
concerns with options to mitigate them. Is she concerned about
integrity or potential cheating? Then you could offer to take the quiz
on your laptop while she is watching your screen in her office. Is she
worried about having you take up her office hours? This really
shouldn't be an issue since professors should give up their office
hours to accommodate student needs, but if it is, you could offer to
take the quiz in class with everyone else and then sit in the
classroom a few extra minutes if you do happen to take longer, which
you may not.
It's true that DSS can help if adaptive equipment malfunctions,
sometimes, but the issue of not being able to ask the professor
questions about the material if you test in the DSS office is not a
trivial one. I recall freshman year, taking a biology lab exam in the
DSS using JAWS. There was a technical drawing of something very
biology-specific (can't remember exactly what anymore) and of course
JAWS couldn't read it. Neither could the DSS staff, since they are not
biologists. The only one who could verbally describe the drawing was
my bio professor and so I had to walk across campus with a proctor
trailing behind me to ask the prof what the drawing looked like. To
make matters worse, for whatever reason I had opted to take the test
early and when I walked into class to ask the professor, the students
had not begun the test yet and my question gave away what was on the
test. Needless to say it would have been much much easier if I had
been in class and could have just gotten up to discreetly whisper my
question to the professor. In science and math classes especially, DSS
staff are unlikely to know how to provide clarification and this could
have a serious effect on your test performance. The only time that
taking a science or math test in DSS might be an advantage is if they
have the facilities to provide a Braille copy of the test. More
generally, I think it is very important for us to distinguish those
who read to us or convert our materials from those who tutor or teach
us. When I'm taking a test, I'd rather have support from someone who
knows the content than from someone who knows about blindness. For
most content areas, an electronic version of the test or a reader is a
sufficient accommodation, and both are things we can obtain quite
easily without DSS intervention.
Arielle

On 2/3/13, Danielle Sykora <dsykora29 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I really don't understand why a professor would require you to take a
> test/quiz in the dss office rather than in class. Giving it to you as
> an option yes, but a requirement? You should at least have the option
> of completing the test/quiz in class at the same time as everyone
> else.
> Just my thoughts,
> Danielle
>
> On 2/3/13, Jewel <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have a late response that I would like to add, but it's not an
>> affirmation, so please forgive me for that.
>>
>> In my time in college as a blind student, the only quizzes I have
>> taken in class were of two categories: 1) pop quizzes that were given
>> orally or 2) foreign language quizzes that had an oral component.
>>
>> In the first example, I would open word while everyone else took out
>> paper and pencil, and I would type as they wrote. I would then turn in
>> my saved document on a flash drive designated for that class, and the
>> professor would return it after grading. In the second instance, the
>> quiz/test was given to me as a word document as everyone got settled
>> so I would have it open and ready when she began. I would then
>> complete the oral section at the same time as everyone else (either at
>> the beginning, or at a teacher-designated time in the quiz/test). Then
>> I would complete the rest of the quiz/test and save the document on
>> the flash drive designated for that class. The professor would take up
>> the flash drive when she takes up everyone's quiz/test, then return
>> the flash drive after grading.
>>
>> I think it is within a professor's right to require a student to take
>> a quiz at the DSS office if it's not a pop quiz or has an oral
>> component. For example, last semester's biology class (and this
>> semester's biology class) require a 10-minute lab quiz every week. Lab
>> is on Tuesday, so I take this lab quiz on Monday afternoons. I get
>> double time, so twenty minutes. I don't normally need the full double
>> time, but last week's quiz, there was an issue with calculators not
>> working and I had to use a calculator I wasn't familiar with, so it
>> took me longer to answer those questions I needed the calculator for.
>> Issues like this can only be dealt with at the disability support
>> services office. If I had been taking the quiz in the class and my
>> talking calculator stopped working like that, the teacher could
>> provide only a regular non-talking calculator, so I would be stuck
>> without access to a calculator that was an easy solution at the DSS
>> office.
>>
>> I don't feel that taking the lab quiz at DSS is too much trouble for
>> me or for my professor. My professor e-mails the quiz to DSS to be
>> checked for accessibility, and I get her to fill out a quiz form
>> during her office hours. I take the quiz after school on Monday and
>> plug my phone into earbuds and listen to music or play on an app while
>> everyone else is taking the lab quiz in-class. It's not a big issue,
>> and it worked last semester and is working just fine this semester.
>>
>> If your professor insists that you take the short quiz at the
>> disability support services office, maybe this is something you should
>> accept as part of requiring specialized equipment. Sure, it's nice to
>> take the test in class with everyone else, but what happens when your
>> technology stops working in the middle of the test? DSS isn't there to
>> see you complete the test on another computer, get another talking
>> calculator, or have a reader/scribe assist you. And in the class, you
>> can forget about extra time. That's not fair to the other students if
>> the professor has something planned for after the quiz. Why should
>> they have to wait extra time because of your disability? Is that
>> accommodating or reverse-discrimination?
>>
>> My two cents,
>> Jewel
>>
>>
>> On 2/3/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Kaiti,
>>> thanks. I will chat with her again and we will see.
>>> I agree its easier to hand me the quiz electronically rather than me
>>> going
>>> way to the testing center and having her send it there and pick it up
>>> there.
>>>
>>> Hopefully, she will change her mind and I won't be inconvenienced andshe
>>> will see its not a big deal.
>>> Ashley
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Kaiti Shelton
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 5:45 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking quizzes and tests
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Good idea beating your prof to the punch by telling the counselor
>>> first.  I thought about mentioning that in a previous email but didn't
>>> want to get too into it without knowing all the details.
>>>
>>> Sounds to me like your teacher is just uncomfortable, although I don't
>>> really see the reason why.  It's really odd because giving you a
>>> microsoft word file on a flashdrive would probably be easier than
>>> sending her test to the testing center and filling out paperwork or
>>> whatever for it, especially as most professors make up their tests and
>>> quizzes in word anyway.
>>>
>>> I would keep trying to nicely convince the prof to let you take the
>>> quiz in class.  Probably all she'll need is one time to see that it's
>>> really not a big deal at all and then you won't really have an issue
>>> like this with her again.
>>>
>>> HTH
>>>
>>> On 2/2/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>> Kaiti,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks. I feel the same way; it’s a hastle and silly to go out of my
>>>> way
>>>> to
>>>>
>>>> a testing center in another building when I could just take the quiz
>>>> there.
>>>> I'm afraid though I won't be able to. When I asked my professor about
>>>> taking
>>>>
>>>> class quizzes, she was hesistant. She said the quiz was not online;
>>>> I explained it did not have to be and that if she put it on a flash
>>>> drive,
>>>>
>>>> I
>>>>
>>>> could read it.
>>>> Then she said, "I think I'll get guidance from the disability office."
>>>> Gee!
>>>>
>>>> If she involves them, they will say that I take quizzes and tests in
>>>> the
>>>> darn testhing center.
>>>>
>>>> I also want to take quizzes my way because I can ask her questions
>>>> about
>>>> questions if it does not make sense just as other students do.
>>>> I think this may be helpful as I've seen her practice quizzes online so
>>>> I
>>>> know how they are worded.
>>>>
>>>> Well, then, I'm glad my idea isn't an unheard one. I proposed taking
>>>> the
>>>> quiz after class because I need extra time for the quiz. However, I
>>>> might
>>>> need only five or six minutes more so if there is no class after ours,
>>>> I
>>>> could just take it in class. I could check on that. I'll note that I
>>>> read
>>>>
>>>> my
>>>>
>>>> memo of accomodations. Under testing accomodations, it says that I can
>>>> make
>>>>
>>>> other arrangements. Yay.
>>>> It says
>>>> Systems include:
>>>> Use of testing center  or disability facilities, double time, oral
>>>> administration,  , computer, typed answers as opposed to scantron
>>>> sheet.
>>>>
>>>> The clause "Includes" means these accomodations are included; I reread
>>>> it
>>>> and therefore its broad. It does not say these are the only
>>>> accomodations
>>>>
>>>> I
>>>>
>>>> can use. So IMO, its open to interpretation and other arrangements. So,
>>>> I
>>>> think this sheet is on my side.
>>>>
>>>> My counselor wrote me when we were discussing class quiz accomodations;
>>>> I
>>>> had to give her a heads up as the professor indicated she'd go to the
>>>> counselor and I wanted to tell the counselor first.She said, I assume
>>>> you're
>>>>
>>>> going to the testing center? I replied that actually I wished to take
>>>> these
>>>>
>>>> short quizzes in her office and explained why. I said that it would
>>>> take
>>>> longer to walk to the testing center and turn on jaws and the pc than
>>>> simply
>>>>
>>>> taking the short quiz in the building.
>>>>
>>>> So, we will see what they decide; I hope in my favor. I've  been to the
>>>> professor's office and she has extra room and plenty of chairs for me
>>>> to
>>>> sit
>>>>
>>>> down and take it. So space won't be an issue as it is i in some
>>>> offices.
>>>> That is great some professors let you use your own equipment in class.
>>>> IMO,
>>>>
>>>> it makes it
>>>> easier on both parties. You don' have to go to a separate place for
>>>> quizzes
>>>>
>>>> then which can be a hastle.
>>>>
>>>> Ashley
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Kaiti Shelton
>>>> Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 1:26 AM
>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] taking quizzes and tests
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> Absolutely, it wouldn't make sense to go through the hassle for
>>>> something that small.  I typically take all my quizzes in class except
>>>> for midterms, finals, and anything math related because that's a
>>>> different matter entirely.
>>>> Your testing rooms and procedures sound pretty similar to the ones at
>>>> my university in that you're on your own unless you request a scribe
>>>> or reader and they provide a computer with JAWS for you.  However, I
>>>> agree that using these things for a quiz would be silly.
>>>>
>>>> My only question is why not take the quiz at the same time as everyone
>>>> else?  If you do get your teacher to put the quiz on a flashdrive to
>>>> put on your BrailleNote why not just take it in class at the regular
>>>> time and give her back the flashdrive when you're done?  It will save
>>>> you time after class.
>>>>
>>>> On 2/1/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>
>>>>> How do you go about taking quizzes and tests?
>>>>> Every school seems a bit different in rules to administer tests to
>>>>> disabled
>>>>> students.
>>>>>
>>>>> At Marymount university, MU, I went to the learning center where
>>>>> students
>>>>> got tutored and took either make up or regular tests.
>>>>> I signed the honor code pledge and then completed the test with a
>>>>> reader
>>>>> usually, a student reader they provided. I could use the pc as well if
>>>>> it
>>>>> was an essay exam.
>>>>>
>>>>> At nova, community college, they have a testing center. you take it
>>>>> there
>>>>>
>>>>> in
>>>>> a room alone. You can get a reader as well if you need that.
>>>>> They have jaws on a pc at the testing center,so I can use it there if
>>>>> I
>>>>> opt
>>>>> to read it on the pc.
>>>>>
>>>>> Do you go through the formal disability office procedure and take
>>>>> exams
>>>>> in
>>>>>
>>>>> a
>>>>> separate building and whatever place for test takers with
>>>>> disabilities?
>>>>> I usually have done it unless my professor wants to work something
>>>>> else
>>>>> out;
>>>>> for instance, giving me short quizzes orally after class.
>>>>>
>>>>> Have you taken exams or quizzes in professor’s offices using your own
>>>>> equipment or in class? Do you work out other arrangements out with
>>>>> professors such as this rather than going to the designated testing
>>>>> office.
>>>>>
>>>>> I ask because I want to do this for a short quiz. Why go over to the
>>>>> testing
>>>>> center on the other side of campus when I feel I can take the quiz
>>>>> right
>>>>> there in the building? I’d either read the quiz via my notetaker or
>>>>> bring
>>>>>
>>>>> a
>>>>> laptop. My professor seemed unsure about this idea. She said, I’ll ask
>>>>> the
>>>>> disability counseling center about this.
>>>>> I said, if you do, they will just say I take them in the testing
>>>>> center;
>>>>> this is the default arrangement unless we work out something else. I
>>>>> get
>>>>> the
>>>>> sense she is uncomfortable with me taking the quiz after class. Note
>>>>> that
>>>>> that her office hours are right after class and her office is in that
>>>>> building. Its so much more convenient to take the quiz there rather
>>>>> than
>>>>> walk way to the testing center for a 10 question quiz.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> She said its not online; I explained that I could read it in Word
>>>>> format
>>>>> electronically on a flash drive; so it did not need to be online for
>>>>> me
>>>>> to
>>>>> take it on a electronic device.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Anyway, just wondered what others have done. Hope my idea also sounds
>>>>> reasonable. to me it seems fair. I’d still be supervised while taking
>>>>> the
>>>>> quiz and would not have to go to the testing center.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ashley
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Kaiti
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kaiti
>>>
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>>
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