SENATE

 

Subject:        Use of Calculators in Examinations

Origin:           Learning and Teaching Committee, 11 November 2004

The Committee was invited to endorse an amendment to Regulation VII and a list of ‘approved calculators’.  It was noted that concerns had been expressed on behalf of dyslexic students who might find it difficult to get used to a new calculator if they had to change their calculator in mid-session for one on the approved list.  It was suggested that DANS might issue students in this position with a written dispensation that would allow them to continue using the machine they were familiar with for the rest of the current session.  It was accepted that some students with severe difficulties might need special arrangements.  These could be put in place under the ‘Assessment Policy for Students who have a Disability’.  It was noted that the policy was in the process of being updated and it was agreed that the use of calculators as an issue be brought to the attention of those concerned. 

It was suggested that departments which were prepared to allow calculators that did not appear on the approved list should be advised to avoid broad definitions when wording the rubric of relevant examination papers, since invigilators could not be expected to make decisions about the acceptability or otherwise of different types of machine if makes and model numbers were not specified.

Following further discussion on the question of timing, it was agreed to RECOMMEND to Senate that the revised regulation and the accompanying list of approved calculators be approved with effect from the beginning of Semester One 2005/06, to provide a longer period of notice and obviate the need for transitional arrangements.  It was further agreed to RECOMMEND that the interim regulation which had been put in place at the beginning of 2004/05 to pave the way for the approved list should be withdrawn, and the wording of the relevant regulation should revert to the version approved by Senate in June 2004. 

 

Author – R A Bowyer

Date – November 2004

Copyright © Loughborough University. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

Ordinances and Regulations Committee

Subject:    Regulation VII: Conduct of Examinations and Other Assessments

Origin:      Secretary

 

1.         At its meeting on 23 June 2004 Senate approved:

 

·         Amendments to Regulation VII (then titled Regulations for University Examinations)

·         A proposal from Learning and Teaching Committee for a list of approved calculators for use in examinations.

 

To ensure that reference to the latter was included in the revised version of Regulation VII for the start of the academic year 2004/05, the Vice-Chancellor has approved the following amendment to para 26 as an interim measure:

 

‘Calculators shall only be permitted where this is stated in the rubric to the question paper and shall be of an approved type.  Examination papers shall state whether calculators and/or information storing devices differing from the approved types shall be allowed, which shall further specify whether such calculators may be programmable. No calculator instruction manual will be allowed in an Examination Hall in any circumstance.  Candidates are responsible for the provision and performance of their own calculators.’

 

.2         The Committee is now asked to consider the following further refinement of para 26, to take effect from the Senate meeting on 26 November 2004:

 

‘Calculators shall only be permitted where this is stated in the rubric to the question paper and shall be of an approved  a type included on the list of calculators approved by the University and published by the Academic Registrar for this purpose.. Examination papers shall state whether calculators and/or information storing devices differing from the approved types shall be allowed. Calculators or other devices not appearing on that list will only be allowed when explicitly stated in the rubric to the question paper. No calculator instruction manual will be allowed in an Examination Hall in any circumstance.  Candidates are responsible for the provision and performance of their own calculators.’

 

This wording will be submitted to Learning and Teaching Committee and Senate in November, together with the Committee’s comments and the proposed list of approved calculators.

 

Author – Jennie Elliott

Date – October 2004

Copyright © Loughborough University.  All rights reserved.

 

Proposed ‘approved list’ of calculators