streak_56

I've been in school for the past eight weeks, for my third year apprentice electrical program. Today was the TQ (trade qualification) and hence my question. As I am walking into the SAIT gym, my teacher is saying that Cell Phones are not allowed into the gym for the exam, anyone caught with a cell phone will have their exams confiscated. As I was walking by, I quickly put my cell into an inside pocket that couldn't be seen. Other guys in my class did the same. About three more times it was mentioned that if someone is caught with a cell phone will have their exam confiscated.

Now, I finished my exam and started walking out, to get into the gym, there was a long stairway. And when I reached the top of the stairway, I pulled out my phone and turned it on. I escaped, not caught but really freaked out that I risked something like that. Now, a friend of mine that was in the class, pulled his cell phone out and turned it on as he was walking through the door of the gym into the stairway. They pulled him back into the gym and confiscated and threw his exam out. His arguement was that he didn't have it on his person at all, that it was in his jacket the whole time, that he handed his exam in and was out the door before they caught him. Now, he's lucky not to be kicked out of the course, let alone the trade; AIT (Apprenticeship and Industry Training) is very strict about their rules and would not hesitate to kick someone out.

I think that he got caught, and should accept the consequences of his actions. And the fact that he was stupid enough to pull it out in a place where AIT could see it, let alone is his fault. He was made aware of the rule and got caught, plain, simple and justified.

How should this be handled, he's appealing this, but this rule is new this year. Previously we could just put it on the floor beneath our seats. Is this rule improper? Or is it a necessary mean to prevent cheating? Is there actually people who are up to cheat this bad?

The worse I've heard is going to the bathroom and pulling something from a pant pocket or hidden in their shoes.

snowy

Yes, people use their cell phones and Blackberries to cheat. My profs have the same stance as your school--any cell phone seen out during an exam is grounds for flunking the student on that exam and reporting them to the student conduct office (which may or may not result in expulsion from the university). They have the same policy with headphones now too. Hats are also not allowed--not even beanies (toques). And these are the rules for regular midterms. Seems to me that the exam you took was even more important than a regular midterm, and so it makes sense that they would be so strict about the rules.

That's how it is these days. It's a shame, but it's best to keep your nose clean. Personally, I just leave my phone at home on exam days.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

basmoq

I'd fail him if he were my student. In our exams, you have to place it on the front desk if you forget and bring it in.

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Strange Famous

rules are rules. I would never have dreamed of taking a cell phone into an exam when I was at uni or school.

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

Daniel_

At my college, you had a "white list" of allowed items. Basically writing tools, rules and geometry tools, calculators as appropriate, and bottled water were allowed, everything else was banned.

No audio equipment, no food, no medcines without a doctor's note, no confectionery.

No ambiguity, no problem.

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