Philosophy
The unexamined life is not living, but is the unexamined course worth giving? Is there any value in giving in-class blue book exams in philosophy? Let's exclude logic and critical thinking, what is the advantage to timed exams?
I give exams, but I've gotten away from in-class and gone completely over to take homes because it allows students the space to work out insights, to be able to quote and cite works they are engaging, and to print out the paper in a font that is much easier on the eyes than their hand-scrawled chicken scratch. The exercise seems a better facsimile of the philosophical process, although it does keep me from being able to ask straight forward knowledge recall questions like you get with matching, short answer, or fill in the blanks. But, let's be honest, in a week's time that short term info is gone anyway and it can be asked for creatively in a well-worded essay question.
So, is there value in a timed in-class philosophy exam? Is there a reason for the blue book blues?
- Passing The Plate: Exam Jokes
My Fellow Comedists, It's that time again. Most religions ask you to donate money, but Comedists tithe jokes. Since we are only a week out from final exams, let's do school and exam jokes. My contributions: A teacher was wrapping up the last day...
- Right And True And The Way We Educate Our Kids
I'm reading Strawson's Introduction to Logical Theory and in a footnote in the first chapter, he draws a distinction between a student giving a correct answer and giving a true answer. The point brought to mind a conversation I was a part of over...
- Auto Mechanics To Quantum Mechanics: Any Questions?
It's that time again. For those new to the Playground, I have a schtick I do at the beginning of each class where I let the students ask absolutely any question they have, any question at all, from auto mechanics to quantum mechanics. Some former...
- Comprehensive Exams
[Note: I did not have my philosopher look this over today because I was in a hurry, so there might be serious errors or lapses in judgment. Please excuse me in advance]. Perhaps you?ve heard rumors of a terrible test or a series of terrible tests that...
- Blue Moon
In all these years I cannot recall seeing a "blue moon". Of course the moon is not really blue, but it can adorn the appearance of blueness [and other colors]--all based on the particulate matter dispersed in the atmosphere such as volcanic eruptions...
Philosophy
The Blue (but not the brown) Books
The unexamined life is not living, but is the unexamined course worth giving? Is there any value in giving in-class blue book exams in philosophy? Let's exclude logic and critical thinking, what is the advantage to timed exams?
I give exams, but I've gotten away from in-class and gone completely over to take homes because it allows students the space to work out insights, to be able to quote and cite works they are engaging, and to print out the paper in a font that is much easier on the eyes than their hand-scrawled chicken scratch. The exercise seems a better facsimile of the philosophical process, although it does keep me from being able to ask straight forward knowledge recall questions like you get with matching, short answer, or fill in the blanks. But, let's be honest, in a week's time that short term info is gone anyway and it can be asked for creatively in a well-worded essay question.
So, is there value in a timed in-class philosophy exam? Is there a reason for the blue book blues?
- Passing The Plate: Exam Jokes
My Fellow Comedists, It's that time again. Most religions ask you to donate money, but Comedists tithe jokes. Since we are only a week out from final exams, let's do school and exam jokes. My contributions: A teacher was wrapping up the last day...
- Right And True And The Way We Educate Our Kids
I'm reading Strawson's Introduction to Logical Theory and in a footnote in the first chapter, he draws a distinction between a student giving a correct answer and giving a true answer. The point brought to mind a conversation I was a part of over...
- Auto Mechanics To Quantum Mechanics: Any Questions?
It's that time again. For those new to the Playground, I have a schtick I do at the beginning of each class where I let the students ask absolutely any question they have, any question at all, from auto mechanics to quantum mechanics. Some former...
- Comprehensive Exams
[Note: I did not have my philosopher look this over today because I was in a hurry, so there might be serious errors or lapses in judgment. Please excuse me in advance]. Perhaps you?ve heard rumors of a terrible test or a series of terrible tests that...
- Blue Moon
In all these years I cannot recall seeing a "blue moon". Of course the moon is not really blue, but it can adorn the appearance of blueness [and other colors]--all based on the particulate matter dispersed in the atmosphere such as volcanic eruptions...