After the shift to the traditional pen and paper conduct for the second major assessments, Tessie Palma, the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academics (AVCA), clarified in an interview with Lavoxa that it is not a permanent fixture in the system, and that the modes of examinations will still depend on the nature of the subject and of the course, Dec. 6.
“Hindi naman siya yung tipong ‘ okay, balik na tayo sa pen and paper.’ We are not doing that. What we’re saying is that we are only going to administer the assessment based on the nature of the course and [kung] ano yung requirements ng course,” she said.
Last Nov. 20 to 25, the second Major Assessment (MA) shifted from being primarily administered via Canvas to making use of answer sheets, and having a uniform schedule for minor subjects. Prior to this, the tests were usually administered via the Canvas platform, during the class schedules and were proctored by the teacher in charge of that subject.
The schedule of the second assessments were given a week before, which had students wondering why these changes, especially that of the schedules being changed, were suddenly made.
However, Palma said that such changes were not sudden, and that the introduction of having proctors during the examinations was the primary change.
“At the onset, we have the option for administering assessments. Nasa college academic policies yan, [which were told] to students during the orientation [at the start of the school year]. Hindi sudden yung changes on kung pen-and-paper siya or online, because in the proctoring assignment, naka-indicate dun kung pen-and-paper, may online din tayo,” cited Palma in an interview with Lavoxa.
The distribution of a common timetable for students taking the same courses, she claimed, was mainly brought about by reports during the first assessments that there were conflicting schedules for the general education courses.
“During MA 1, dun kami nagka-problema kasi there are actually certain conflicts sa schedule ng major assessment[s] administered during the schedule of the GE courses. Maraming reports ng conflict in schedule, so what we did is we pivoted from MA to MA 2 na may proctoring assignment at schedule that is for all the colleges,” Palma explained.
Professors were also asked for their insight on such changes, with the common thread between their answers being that of the maintained integrity of the exams, and a fair playing ground for all students.
Noriel Navita, Department Chair of Education, shares his sentiments about the MA system change (V. Tinga)
Noriel Navita, the Department Chair of Education, mentioned that pen-and-paper assessments may be more beneficial for the students, and may serve as a way for exams to be more legitimate, as chances of cheating are lessened.
“Kaya din tayo bumabalik sa pen and paper [ay dahil] gusto natin na maihanda ang estudyante natin, lalo na for those who will be taking board exams.” Navita added in support of his claim.
Amidst students’ mixed thoughts, most were satisfied with the way that written exams were conducted, claiming that the way exams were done traditionally may be more advantageous than it is disadvantageous.
Cornelio Mago, a second year Legal Management student, said that through the online way of conducting the assessments, students are able to test their knowledge in a more fitting way.
Cornelio Mago, a BS Legal Management student, shares his thoughts about the MA system change. (D.Fronda)
“Katulad naming legal management, hindi din [kami] pwedeng magpabaya kasi ang inuuphold namin ay justice, integrity and truth so sa ganitong system, mas nafoforce kami na mas maging full of integrity and truth sa pagsasagot,” said Mago.
On the other hand, Sophie Villanueva, a second year Architecture student, claimed that although she has no qualms about the system, she would have preferred to have the exams for general education subjects and major subjects be done during separate weeks.
Article by Mharq Ghierzey Abe
