The Victorian Computer-Based Mathematical Methods (CBE): How it works in schools

Simona Wengritzky, Project Manager VCE Assessment
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Australia

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)

Melbourne to Champaign

From Melbourne to Champaign 15,458 km via Mathematica a few seconds

VCE = Victorian Certificate of Education

Mathematical Methods (MM) Examination in Victoria Australia

In Victoria there are two certificates for Senior Secondary Education

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)

Victorian Certificate of Education Baccalaureate (VCE B)

In 2017 50,908 students completed VCE and 3,939 VCE Baccalaureate.

VCE Unit Completion Outcomes in MM: 15,984 students and 521 providers

Top 8 most popular Victorian VCE studies in 2017:

1.	English: 42,268 students
2.	Further Mathematics: 31,777 students
3.	Mathematical Methods: 15,984 students
4.	Psychology: 15,504 students
5.	Business Management: 14,504 students
6.	Health and Human Development: 14,174 students
7.	Biology: 13,504 students
8.	Physical Education: 10,303 students

Mathematical Methods

Mathematical Methods is a prerequisite for:

Studying Mathematics at a higher level

Science, Engineering and Medicine

Commerce

Business Analysis, Statistics, Data, Economics

Architecture

Mathematical Methods Examination

Exam1: 60 minutes (no technology)

Exam 2: 120 minutes (technology assumed)

All examinations have an additional 15 minutes reading time before commencement.

Mathematical Methods Examination 2

Mathematical Methods written examination 2 consists of:

Question and Answer Book

Formula Sheet

approved CAS calculator or software + bound reference

Mathematical Methods CBE 2 - Mathematica based

Mathematica

Mathematica enables:

Programming the student palette (runs the examination)

Creating the examination as a .nb file

Constructing assessment tasks at school and VCAA level

Computations for students to use during examination

Solving mathematical problems in class

Student Palette is ...

the application running the examination according to VCAA’s specifications

updated yearly.

Features of the Palette

Student Palette:

Auto Save Timer

Producing the Examination

Examination:

Examination is finalised as a paper version

Created as a .nb file using the production palette

Teachers also receive a mini version of production palette

Formula sheet also needs to be finalised.

Producing the CBE Examination

Teachers Palette:

Producing the CBE Examination (2)

Teachers Palette:

Producing the CBE Examination (3)

Test SECTION A - Multiple-Choice Question:

How it Works

Technical readiness in schools involves:

Collecting technical data at the start of the school year

Designating Technical Support Staff (Statutory Declaration)

Teachers receiving review examinations, past examinations with current student palette

Provision of student, technical and supervisor instructions and videos

Provision of zipped examination files to schools via USB/SFTP

the files contain installer, student palette, examination file, formula sheet and 
absent student register

Schools administering several review tests before final examination

A ‘full dress rehearsal’ trial examination, using past examinations

Administering the final examination in early November

At School Level

Technical Support Person is responsible for:

receiving the examination via USB/SFTP

installing the examination onto student’s computers 2 hours prior to  the test

assisting students in case of technical issues

disconnecting computers from the Internet and from the school network

retrieving students’ answers and saving them on a USB /SFTP at the end of the examination

an independent appointed supervisor is responsible for the conduct of the examination.

Improvements to the Student Palette

Improvements:

Mathematics Examination Interface 2017

Button[Style["https://www.dropbox.com/","Hyperlink"],NotebookLocate[{URL["https://www.dropbox.com/s/qoqbu1539d7pyea/Interface_2017.mp4?dl=0"],None}],Appearance->None]

File Management

Student test files and Log files:

are saved as .pdf and .nb files.

Log files are also saved

Each student will have several electronic files saved in a folder with their student number

Log Files

Documenting student activity:

Syntax::bktmcp: Expression “Solve[{x  + a * x  + b * x}” has no closing “]”.

Syntax::sntxf: “{3 - 2a + b == 0,” cannot be followed by “== 0}”.

Give us the history of students’ actions during the examination

Possible Future Directions

Need to improve:

Too much manual involvement at school level

Need to deploy the examination securely and automatically to schools

Automated upload for ‘Students’ Answer’ to a designated secure server

Internet connection/hardware at school level

View to making CBE available to all schools

From CBE to online version of the examination