Alongside the predictable photogenic female twins with 12 As on the front pages of the papers (and the predictable prediction of these stories) there’s been a new element in the media reports this results season. As electronic marking becomes more widespread there have been some disturbing stories about its shortcomings. Here are the links: decide for yourself whether these are the teething problems of a brave new world or the inevitable consequences of letting the technology mess up a perfectly good system. Or, of course, something else:
- Tragic marker: Alastair Harper has no experience of teaching. But that didn’t prevent him taking a job marking this year’s GCSEs. (Guardian, Friday August 10, 2007)
- In capable hands? Minimal training, no experience of teaching … these are just two of the criticisms made today of Edexcel markers. Is this really how exams are being assessed, asks Felicity Carus in The Guardian, Tuesday August 21, 2007
- Writing too much hits online marking: Edexcel asks students to keep answers concise and in black to suit its on-screen system. TES, 24 August 2007
- Less is more for online marking: BBC report on same story, 24 August 2007.
Please add your own comments and links here to continue the argument.