Education: General Discussion

[mellie]

Would you care if you knew that your GP had failed pharmacology 3 times, this and took 11 years to complete what should have been a 5-6 year degree?

Our universities are filled with re-sitters, more often than not they are international full-fee paying students wishing to seek residency upon completion of their degrees.

Sorry, but the scaling of exam results in this country, to accommodate those who shouldn't really be there is of real concern.

That would be a concern but the average person can tell if their GP is a dud. They're quite easy to spot. I'm referring to those who passed all their courses in the expected time but required additional tutoring. Unfortunately universities have become addicted to international student fees and have turned themselves into conveyer belts rather than leaders of quality education. I've never known anyone to fail university and some were real duds.

Many people, particularly the elderly place much trust in their GP's, and assume they know what they are doing.

If you knew the amount of drug errors I have seen them make, you would think twice, believe me, you would.

I know I did.

[Neferti]

Good for you Nef, I have no idea what my IQ is, as I have never been tested.

Just go to http://free-iqtest.net/. Not difficult, doesn't take very long and they won't bug you afterwards. You will get a similar gif with your result which you can then post here.

[Neferti]

Wog Girl might be able to answer this.

Why don't they do "exams" (or even tests) from Primary School on any more? For that matter, why don't they have proper exams in High School, rather than "assessment"?

In my day it was a way that even I could understand how I was progressing, We had 3 sit down exams per year. Proper Exams. You had to study for them or fail! At the end of the year your results were averaged, so you got a mark for each subject for that Year. Not just an A-D assessment. You got a figure out of 100 for each subject calculated by how you answered questions at the Exams. If you slacked off your grades went down and you had a chance to study hard and bring your average back up again next term. None of this Teacher Reports/Assessment stuff. Don't get me wrong, I have had a lot of teacher friends, most I imagined are/were "great teachers". Some in Grammar Schools, others in State/Public Schools. A teacher giving you an A on your Report Card is not like YOU earning a 85 to 90+ at an exam!

[mellie]

Nef, my daughter had a fiddle with the IQ test thingy, and had trouble sending a link of the badge from my laptop to her Ipad.

Can she just send all the code via email?

She wants to put it on her facebook I think.

[mellie]

And Nef, re- your IQ test.

It's rigged, it's meant to be complimentary, (hence it's easy) so more people use it this an pass it on to friends.

[mantra]

And Nef, re- your IQ test.

It's rigged, it's meant to be complimentary, (hence it's easy) so more people use it this an pass it on to friends.

Surely it's not rigged and Neferti really has got an IQ of 150?

[mantra]

Many people, particularly the elderly place much trust in their GP's, and assume they know what they are doing.

If you knew the amount of drug errors I have seen them make, you would think twice, believe me, you would.

I know I did.

It's the luck of the draw. Someone might be good academically, but hopeless at hands on work and vice versa.

My doctor is a dud, but I don't expect any better from doctors generally. If I think she's wrong about something - I'll tell her what I think it is and she'll send me off for my suggested tests. Usually we're both wrong.

[IQS.RLOW]

Psychiatry is a hit and miss affair, Mantra

[mellie]

Many people, particularly the elderly place much trust in their GP's, and assume they know what they are doing.

If you knew the amount of drug errors I have seen them make, you would think twice, believe me, you would.

I know I did.

It's the luck of the draw. Someone might be good academically, but hopeless at hands on work and vice versa.

My doctor is a dud, but I don't expect any better from doctors generally. If I think she's wrong about something - I'll tell her what I think it is and she'll send me off for my suggested tests. Usually we're both wrong.

Seriously Mantra, you need a new GP, if you lack this much confidence in the one you have then it's time to see a new GP.

You may have to see a few before you find one you feel comfortable with, though it's worth it in the long run.

Dont be complacent when it comes to finding a good GP.

[wog_girl]

Wog Girl might be able to answer this.

Why don't they do "exams" (or even tests) from Primary School on any more? For that matter, why don't they have proper exams in High School, rather than "assessment"?

In my day it was a way that even I could understand how I was progressing, We had 3 sit down exams per year. Proper Exams. You had to study for them or fail! At the end of the year your results were averaged, so you got a mark for each subject for that Year. Not just an A-D assessment. You got a figure out of 100 for each subject calculated by how you answered questions at the Exams. If you slacked off your grades went down and you had a chance to study hard and bring your average back up again next term. None of this Teacher Reports/Assessment stuff. Don't get me wrong, I have had a lot of teacher friends, most I imagined are/were "great teachers". Some in Grammar Schools, others in State/Public Schools. A teacher giving you an A on your Report Card is not like YOU earning a 85 to 90+ at an exam!

The word 'exam', for some reason, has become a dirty word. I agree that exams should be present at primary school. From years 4-12, kids need exposure to exams. At our school we have exams for maths, science and english at year 10 and then exams for years 11 and 12. We are pushing for maths and english exams at years 8 and 9 as a means of checking progress which hopefully will be place by 2014. Many "progressives" think that exams are pointless, don't contribute to a child's learning and can cause distress to children and these people dominate policy making - the very same people who told us not to use red pens when marking tests because it'll somehow scar the child. I disagree. Exams are a great way for young people to develop and improve memory retention and applying critical analysis to problem solving within certain time frames. These are skills needed in the workforce. It's difficult to implement these crucial parts of a child's learning because the AEU are excellent at shutting these debates down. Unfortunately our schools are structured exactly how the AEU want them to be. If Gillard wants to earn my respect, she can start by telling the AEU to 'shut up' and start modelling our education system on South Korea, Japan, China and India.