9-3
THE IMPORTANCE OF OPEN-BOOK EXAMS
There are good reasons to encourage students to use their books and notes
during exams:
Open-book tests place value on looking things up when in doubt, rather than
trying to rely purely on memory. In this way, classroom tests can help health
workers develop a careful approach to looking for answers to problems in their
communities.
When a health worker is attending a sick
person, he may think he remembers all the
signs and symptoms and the correct medication.
But if he has the slightest doubt, it is safer to
look things up. During training programs, we
have often seen slower students answer test
questions more correctly than quicker students.
Why? Because they did not try to rely on their
memories. They looked things up!
Encouraging students to use their books
during exams will help them to use their books
openly with sick persons and their families. They
will be less tempted to pretend they know it all.
This results in fewer mistakes and better health
education, and helps take some of the magic out
of modern medicine.
The best student and health worker is
not the one who has the best memory.
He is the one who takes the time to
look things up.
TEST QUESTIONS THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR PROBLEM SOLVING IN
THE COMMUNITY:
Yet another advantage to open-book exams is that they encourage teachers
to think of more creative, problem-oriented questions. Questions that call for a
good memory, but no thinking, become pointless if students can simply copy the
answers from their books. So instructors have to think of questions that test the
students’ ability to use what they have learned.
TWO SORTS OF EXAM QUESTIONS
LESS APPROPRIATE:
What are the common signs of anemia?
MORE APPROPRIATE:
A pregnant woman complains of weakness.
She breathes very hard when she walks uphill.
What might be her problem?
What other signs would you look for?
What questions would you ask?
The second question tests the students’ abilities both to apply their knowledge and
to use their books. It takes them one step closer to being able to solve real problems
they will meet as health workers.