9 - Diplomas

I found the idea of entrance exams (like SATs) hugely enticing. It makes sense that Engineering should have a different exam than Sociology. Changing the world of post-secondary nation-wide might be tough though. 

With shifting PATs to SLAs (Student Learning Assessments), one might question the future of diplomas.  The impression I get is that they are not going anywhere - if anything, they are going bigger.

I've listed 4 main things that I found interesting about the diploma's future:

1. More writing times -

Diplomas are already offered in more than January/June. The current schedule shows January, April, June, August, November. "Inspiring Education describes an education system where flexibility and discretion at the local level is the norm. Therefore, beginning this school year (2013–14), most students requiring accommodations will be able to have those accommodations approved at the local level". The ability for schools/boards to offer diplomas at different dates will allow the high school flexibility (redesign) to rethink the calendars.

I've already heard "rumblings" of my district rethinking our calendar model for 2015/16. I have also hear rumors that in 2016, December may host diploma exams as well. Will this allow schools to sync up with post-secondary?

2. Digital offering

Regardless of more writing times, there's more on the way. 

"Testing of the digital exams will begin in 2014. The province plans on having all diploma exams offered electronically by the fall of 2017. Students will still be able to write exams on paper if they want."

This might assist in Alberta Education offering exams more often...I also know that student's personal devices have already been tested in a "locked-down" mode. 

3. Digital marking

"Piloting of electronic diploma exams, including the use of an online system and digital marking, is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2014." 

There has been lots of research done in AES (Automated Essay Scoring) like LightSide. A number of open-source projects are still in the works, but an impartial digital marker is said to be as accurate as the human touch. Feel free to look into it more, but it's crazy to think that extended response questions could be marked digitally (in part).

Sometimes it is tough for a person to give a 0% or a 100%. A computer knows that if you're a zero, you are a zero.

4. Curricular Shift

"Diploma exams will also be reviewed as provincial curriculum changes to focus on competencies and preparing young Albertans to be engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit."

 Does this mean a shift from outcome-based assessments? I have no idea. Perhaps cross-curricular diplomas may be expected? It's easy to anticipate more of a focus on competencies, but how this will look will require more time. I'm not even sure if Alberta Education knows the diplomas true fate. What will post-secondary say? Will they respond with entrance exams? My guess is not likely.