VOL. 4. No. 10
NEWTECHNIC IN EXAMINATIONS
1293
NEW TECHNIC IN EXAMINATIONS
The author has devised a cumparatiuely simple instrument for giving examinations of the multiple response and true-false ty9e. The device described hermith makes correction of examination pa9ers of this type unnecessary, and thus assists i n reducing demands on teacher time. It corrects pupil errors as they are made by causing the 9up'l to correct his mistake immediately, under penalty of having his score still further reduced. It records the grades i n permanent form on mimeographed or printed blanks. The purpose of this article is to present a simple inexpensive device to lighten the work of testing pupils and to increase effectiveness of examinations. Perhaps the device may be best described by taking the reader on an imaginary trip through the examination room. One finds that a room has been set aside for the purpose. It is centrally located and may be near the library. It is lighted by subdued natural light, and preferably faces the north. Ventilation is excellent. One presently observes a screen and a reflection type of lantern. The lantern is able to project typewriting on the screen so as to be plainly visible without further reduction of light. About the room a t comfortable distances are thirty fixed seats with desks. These desks have some space available for writing, and are also provided with four or more keys, similar to those of an adding machine. These keys are placed in a staggered position, and are marked with large upraised numerals on the tops of the keys. Let us now watch the course of a brief examination. The pupils enter and take seats previously assigned. The teacher checks a t a glance the condition of the adding device to be described later. The screen is illuminated and the examination questions are presented one a t a time, either from an endless sheet of paper similar to a film, or from typewritten sheets placed in like plates. The first question reads: Atomic weight of 0 = 16; of H = 1. In order to produce 36 grams of water, we must use 1. 17 grams of hydrogen. 2. 4 grams of hydrogen. 3. 2 grams of hydrogen. 4. An inde6nite amount of hydrogen. After the question has been submitted a sufficiently long time, the pupils push down the keys bearing the numbers which they think represent the correct reply. Then the teacher presses a master key, which automatically records all the correct answers to the credit of each student,
1294
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
OCTOBER, 1927
and then illuminates a little area behind the number "2" in a space near the screen. This informs the pupils whether they have replied correctly or not. The error is thus detected by the pupil himself and immediately after he has made the mistake. Moreover the machine may be so set that he is required to press the correct key, thus counteracting the effect of the mistake psychologically, or confirming his correct choice. When all the questions have been answered the class is dismissed. While they are passing out, the teacher presses a lever which automatically totals and records in permanent form the record of each pupil. The teacher then "clears" the adding device, and leaves the room with the pupils. Some other class enters on schedule. The examinations last for perhaps ten minutes and are given very frequently. The room is kept busy continuously. The simplicity of the operation will appeal to any teacher who has spent hours over correction of papers. It should appeal to the psychologist as one means of testing in which mistakes are detected by the pupil himself, and are corrected immediately by him under penalty. The device should appeal to the administrator or school board member who is interested in relieving his teaching staff as far as possible from routine clerical duties, that they may spend more time in the more profitable work of preparation of material and the assumption of other duties. The mechanical details are explained chiefly in the figure. The complete wiring diagram for Master Key No. 1 and for the pupil keys No. 1 is shown. There are four or more of these units, but each of the four circuits includes the same electromagnet for any particular pupil. Therefore, the pupil and the teacher must both press keys of the same number to affect the magnet and record a grade. The keys are staggered in order to render them more distinctive, so that one will not press the wrong key. They bear upraised numerals for the same reason, as shown in part X of the drawing. Part Y shows the details of the construction of the master keys. A is a hinge and tension for the main part of the key. B is the button. When this is pushed down the pressure first pushes the tongue C out to the position shown, then depresses the whole key downward, swinging on A. The tongue touches the spring contact D momentarily, which permits a current to flow on through the circuit to the pupil key No. 1, then if that switch is closed, on to the electromagnet. As the key moves on downward, the contact a t D is broken and a new contact is made a t E. This allows a current to flow through a new circuit including the light behind the numeral near the screen and serves to inform the pupils which was the correct response. Now, if desired, the tension a t A may be relieved and so regulated as to allow a strong upward pull by the spring, not shown. This keeps the tongue C out, and a second registration is made on the
upstroke, every pupil having in the meantime corrected his errors. The number of credits so given may be deducted from all scores, so that the pupil is required under penalty to correct his errors. Again, the tension
Master
Key No l
T.K~~ W O I , Pupil No3
I
CIRCUIT
TO
R e c o r d e r f . o w
for
PUPIL N0.I. KEY NO1 Ta Key
No./, Pvpd We f,dc
To Recorder f w P ~ p i l
may be so regulated that the beam rises slowly, and the tongue has been withdrawn into the beam so that no contact is made on the upstroke. The recording device is shown in part Z of the drawing. If both the master key and the appropriate pupil key are closed, a current will flow As this moves to through the electromagnet, pulling on the bar D,
the left a catch on the bar engages a lug and moves the wheel C counterclockwise a certain distance. This also revolves the concentric wheel A, which is attached to the wheel C, and has on its diameter a rubber stamp containing numerals. The first of these characters may be the letter "a," signifying an absence. When the current has passed, the spring replaces the bar, where it engages the wheel C a t a new lug. At the conclusion of the examination the grades are automatically recorded by inking the type, then pressing a sheet of prepared mimeographed paper against the type a t A by means of the pad B. This pad extends along the thirty or more recorders, and prints all a t one stroke. The complete outfit will thus require four (or more) items of part Y of the figure, one source of recording current, one lantern and screen, thirty or so items of part X of the figure, and the same number of part Z. Two deficiencies may be noticed in the mechanism. Provision must be made that only one pupil key may be pressed a t one time. This has already been solved in cash registers. It is desirable to have some method to set all the recorders a t zero easily. This has been mastered in adding machines. The cost of installation of such equipment would necessarily depend upon the demand. By comparison with current quotations on relays, switches of special design, etc., a rough estimate of five hundred dollars was reached. For a more elaborate machine the cost might amount to fifteen hundred dollars, especially if only a few were to be manufactured. These estimates do not include battery, lantern, screen or lights. They do include wire and a small amount of recorder forms. The cost of operation would not be excessive. The chief item would be current, which would compare with that of the use of any lantern.
Science Important to Empire, Prince of Wales Declares. In a.message to the British Association for the Advancement of Science read a t its inaugural meeting in Leeds, the Prince of Wales, in relinquishing the office of president of that body which he termed "so-called parliament of science," said: "At Oxford last year I ventured in my address t o lay before the meeting a view of the relations between science and the State. I felt subsequently some justification far having chosen this topic, when I observed in the proceedings of the Imperial and Colonial Conferences of the past year the extraordinary emphasis laid upon the value of sdentific research in relation t o imperial development. Both conferences set up special committees on research, and we cannot but believe and rejoice that the foundations of an imperial scientific service are being firmly laid."-Science Senice
