Biology 201
Laboratory Exam Protocols
Books and bags to the front or back (depends on room layout) of the room.
There is to be no communication between students.
Use a pen (bring a few,
at least one of a different
colour).
Timing:
I will put up the slide (see the example) which has a question written there, as well as an image.
I will read the question.
I will then watch the class answer the question.
When the vast majority of students appear to have finished writing their answers, I will ask if it's ok to move on.
I will not return to any question at any time, however I will run through the whole series once at the end, briefly.
Questions from Students during the exam:
Given the method in which this exam is delivered, one student asking a question stalls the whole class.
No questions will be answered during this exam.
I do however, make mistakes. If you're relatively sure that there is something wrong with the question, then write this down on the back of the exam and I will look at it and deal with it appropriately.
Don’t give more info than required -- if I want you to explain your answer, I’ll ask you to explain it.
e.g. "Which insect order is characterized by having scaly wings?"
your answer: "Lepidoptera - which include the bees and wasps."
How do I mark that? You would get no points for that answer.
The correct answer, "Lepidoptera"
...but give enough information!
example 1: "How can you tell that this is a bivalve mollusc?"
your answer, "Because of the shell."
This does not tell me much. You could give the same answer to "How can you tell that this is a gastropod?" However, you haven't actually shown me that you can differentiate between a bivalve and other molluscs.
The correct answer, "two valves"
example 2: "How do fish generate lift?" Neither "By their fins." nor "By continuously swimming." are sufficient.
One question gets ONE answer.
"If you're stopped at a red traffic light, and want to go straight through the intersection, what colour does the light have to change to before you can legally proceed?"
your answer, "Green / Blue"
How do I mark that? You would get no points for that answer.
Correct answer, "Green"
Use point form, unless specifically asked not to do so. If I ask for a list of structures, DO NOT write a monologue! I have dozens of papers to mark, and if you provide a monologue instead of a list, I will not mark it.
Grading for listing questions:
You may be asked to list a series of structures or processes, in order. Here's a simple example to illustrate the grading of such a question.
"List the numbers from one to seven, inclusive, in order."
Correct answer, "1 2 3 4 5 6 7" -- this would get the full seven points.
Incorrect answers and their point values:
"1 2 3 5 4 6 7" -- six points (one structure out of order -1)
"1 2 3 5 6 7" -- six points (one structure missing)
"1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8" or "1 2 8 3 4 5 6 7" -- six points (one extra structure, doesn't matter where)
Basically, you get one point for each correct structure in the correct order. For every correct structure out of order, you lose a point. For every additional structure, you lose a point.
Department of Biology St. Francis Xavier University Antigonish, NS Canada B2G 2W5 |