Test Controversy

In an open-book mid-term test before the Easter holidays, in a certain subject in a certain department (not mine!) in our university, one of the three questions was the same as one of the questions used previously as an exercise, and some of the students were in possession of a sample solution to the question distributed previously. Some of those who did not have the sample solution were upset, understandably.

After the test, the lecturer agreed that the situation was not ideal, and proposed to discount the question in question. Some students supported it, but some others were opposed. So the lecturer decided to delay the decision until after the Easter holidays, upon further consultations. At this point a student posted a big-character-poster on the Democracy Wall on campus, roughly one week before the Easter holidays.

The day before the Easter break I caught up with the author of the poster to understand the situation. At this point a few students have added comments to the original poster, some were in support, and others not. But it wasn’t attracting a lot of attention. The author told me I was the first and only academic staff to contact him up to that point.

After the Easter break, the case was reported in a popular newspaper, and suddenly there was an avalanche of actions, posters, comments and signatures, overflowing the Democracy Wall and attracting big crowds. More details came to light. Allegedly the sample solution was also posted on WebCT before the test, hence available to all students, but not all students were aware of it. The department head went with the lecturer to meet with the class to sort out the situation. At this moment it is not clear whether this case is all finished.

I do not intend to take a particular position on this matter. But two things struck me: Firstly, that there seems to be a large number of students sympathetic to the lecturer. The feeling seems to be that: yes, he probably could have been more careful in making the arrangements for the test, but he wasn’t being unfair; he tried hard to resolve the matter once it was discovered, and above all, he was a good teacher. Secondly, many students think the case is an internal matter which should be handled within the university; getting the newspaper involved was a mistake, damaging to the university and everyone involved.