Does the introduction of hand held technologies into system wide examinations lead to change in the types of mathematical skills assessed?

NAFADISE

Presentation by Dr. Roger Brown, Nørre Gymnasium

The introduction of the graphics calculator into centralised examination systems has required those responsible for writing examination questions to consider how to assess mathematical skills within this new environment. This presentation will explore how three such systems located in Denmark, in Victoria (Australia) as well as the International Baccalaureate have adapted to this new environment. In particular, the presentation will provide a brief overview of each of the examining authorities mathematics curricula and their corresponding assessment systems.

The categorisation scheme developed, for use in the study of mathematics examination papers from 2000 till 2005, will be described along with data from six mathematics subjects, two from each authority. The resulting data from the categorisation scheme will be used to explore the influence that question writers have upon the assessment of certain types of mathematics skills. In particular evidence will be provided demonstrating how question writers can privilege certain types of mathematics skills in high stakes assessments.