NO SCRATCH PAPER - TERRIBLE IDEA
In a profession where we are frequently sketching and doing simple math by hand, why would you take this away during our exams? Many candidates such as myself already struggle with the clock and being able to do quick calculations and drawings by hand for certain questions is pertinent. Some candidates, such as myself, are left handed yet have grown up using a right handed mouse. How are we supposed to draw on a digital whiteboard using our right hand??? This is making testing even more terrible than you've already made it. My friend had an exam from home for business school and they had someone watch her via webcam physically erase her physical whiteboard after her exam was over. Can we not at least do this? No scratch paper at the testing facility and no physical sketching from home is insane. This is just going to be one more thing that is slow and laggy on your already buggy exams. No other exams at Prometric have these issues. Please fix them rather than making it worse.
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I know I am just reiterating the majority opinion here but this is absolutely ridiculous for a test that already has so many technical problems across the board. Was remote-online proctoring discussed with the community? If it was, then we should have been informed of the changes that would have had to occur to administer the test remotely. I would rather be able to have scratch paper and go to a test center than take on the liability of taking the test at home/ remotely. It makes no sense to take away scratch paper from those who are testing to be architects! I vehemently urge NCARB to not implement this change.
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Mark Baker you make a good point, that we wait and see. You also make a good point that case study resources are unreliable, clunky and difficult to work with. Given this precedent, I am dubious of a digital whiteboard. I did not ask for home testing. I have no idea how it's even possible to make that secure. I speculate those testing at home will not be able to go back to flagged questions after a break, should they elect to take a break. The issues around home proctoring seem bigger security to concerns to me than having scratch paper available in test centers with established and tested security protocols in effect.
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I don't think the wait and see approach would be beneficial to test-takers who already have to pay for 10+ exams for failed attempts and because of technological difficulties. For us to test out their new system and cause us more stress in the process, would only be setting us up for more failure and crushed morale.
Will there be dual screens for this whiteboard?- Probably not
Will there be tablets and digital pens given?- Probably not
Will there be more time given for having to use the whiteboard? - Probably not
Will this digital whiteboard be left-handed friendly? - Probably not
Why not fight this now instead of waiting for them to implement it and suffer the consequences.
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Valentine Catapano You will not have the choice, per an NCARB email that went out today. There is a petition you can sign here:
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I don't generally care to get too vocal about the adaptation of NCARBs policies however, this whiteboard idea really irks me. Do you know how time consuming this process would be to mouse ridiculous equations through all the tests I've passed (3). Practice management alone would have been a nightmare.
This is a horrible idea! -
I posted on one of the earlier boards as well regarding the digital whiteboard. They say this is so that there is an equivalent experience for all people testing but if I'm at home and happen to have a touch screen computer then I have a distinct advantage over someone at a testing center that does not have that same touch screen. I want to reinforce that the digital whiteboard is a terrible idea and does not even provide the consistent experience that they are seeking.
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Since I have a "doug-thedowner" here lately, here is smidge of good news: while taking mock exams from a well known 3rd party source, I WAS able to calculate several "bar chart" questions regarding critical, float (slack) and delay days required accurately, doing the math in my head without a calculator (GO ME).
However, I cannot even imagine attempting to calculate construction or design budgets in my head, or even CM project delegation questions involving 4-5 employes U.rates with multipliers, etc. of a firm...SO DAUNTING!!!
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I completed my AREs in 2020 BEFORE the quarantine. But I mentor ARE candidates. I used scratch paper - took a lot of notes, did math, etc. I’m concerned about candidates not having access to scratch paper and a pencil. For me, it was necessary. Trying to “write “ with a mouse is difficult. Are you supposed to use a stylus or something?? It sounds like a stylus with a button (rather than a mouse) would be the only solution. Maybe NCARB should provide one, or recommend a $10 item to have for the exam..
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If anything this decision in regards to those of us with learning disabilities, is a clear violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As part of our profession we are required to pass these test in order to move along on our careers. This decision severely limits the style of learning and problem solving that I've used to overcome my learning disabilities, in turn limiting the chances of success I'll have on a test I'm paying for and am required by law to take. Unless they saying that "I don't have to take the test" in a way that means I can call myself an architect if I want, and not a teak it or leave it proposition, they're violating the ADA if they can't provide the same experience writing on the digital whiteboard as it would be pencil and paper.
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