MATH Papers and Take Home Tests

Paul Kotz (PKotz@ANK.TEC.MN.US)
Thu, 5 Dec 1996 14:16:02 -0600

Regarding take home tests: I teach a course called Mathematical
Systems, which includes a finance portion. I allow them to take home the
test, put them on their honor, and make sure they show me all of their
work. No work, no credit. This is about 1/8 of their total grade. I realize
that some students will try to copy others. This is inevitable. But, I find it
to be a valuable use of their time, because I make the take-home test
harder than the in-class version.

As long as this is not a regular practice to give take home tests, I see it
as a valuable way to see how students do without the time factor
involved.

Incidentally, I require people to write a two page paper at the end of a
quarter, relating a topic they have learned in this class to their life, job,
career, or an area that interests them.

We have alot of very bright, creative, and quantitatively talented people
out there, just waiing to be untapped!

Ok, so you may think this is nuts to require a paper. But realize, that
most students have been very receptive to this idea, and what they
produce has been phenomenal.

Please let me know what you think....