Teaching Tip: Use of Notes during Information Technology Exams Improves Student Performance Slightly
Doris G. Duncan
This paper summarizes findings of teaching eight sections of the same computer information systems college course in the same format with one major exception. Section 1, 3, 4, 5 and 8 had notes available for reference during the final exam whereas Sections 2, 6 and 7 did not. The author’s primary hypothesis that students in the five sections using notes would perform significantly better than the other sections on the exam was not supported. The author also analyzed exam results for the sections allowed to use notes and found there was a significant difference in how individual students who chose to use notes performed compared to those who chose not to use notes. This paper will be of most interest to faculty who teach information technology oriented courses but may of interest to anyone who teaches or takes classes.
Keywords: CIS education, IS education, IT education, informatics education
Dr. Doris Duncan, CCP, CSP, CDP, CDE, is a Professor of Computer Information Systems and former program coordinator at California State University, East Bay (formerly Hayward), USA. Duncan was a Visiting Professor of Information Systems at the University of Washington, Seattle, 1997-98 and the Program Director of Information Systems at Golden Gate University, San Francisco, 1982-83. Her twenty-five plus years of experience in information technology include communications consultant and marketing manager for AT&T, program director for Input, Inc., and member of senior management consulting staff at Quantum Science Corporation. She has had consulting engagements with several businesses, including Dialog Information Services, Pacific Bell Telephone Co., Valicert, Golden Gate University, Prentice Hall, McGraw-Hill Book Co. Dr. Duncan authored a book, Computers and Remote Computing Services, and has published over 60 refereed journal articles and conference presentations. She is also a frequent speaker before professional groups. Duncan is past president of the Data Processing Management Association, San Francisco Chapter, and has served on the Board of Directors of several professional societies, including DPMA, the DPMA Special Interest Group in Education, and the Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals Education Foundation. Duncan has served on the editorial review board for the Journal of Information Systems Education, the Journal of Informatics Education and Research and as a reviewer for many textbooks and conference proceedings. Duncan was selected “Computer Educator of the Year” in 1997 by the International Association of Computer Information Systems and is listed in over 30 Who’s Who publications, including Who's Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.
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