Supervising Exams In The 21st Century With The Gadget Generation Is A Big Challenge

There are stricter rules these days, when I am supervising exams. As a student I used to be able to go to the toilet, drink water or eat during the exam. I never went to the toilet with the exams, but drink a lot of water and certainly ate during the exam in my time. Nowadays forget it. This is what needs to be done before an exam these days:

• Show  up and sign for attendance with both the school's ID and study card. Me, as the exam supervisor, check if the student name is on the list and check if the ID matches the person and name on the list and has the student sign. After signing, they are not allowed to leave the room, not even for the toilet before the exam has starts. In my time I showed my study card and ID and looked for a table and went to the toilet

• Bags and jackets in the front. During writing exams, the coats and bags must be placed in the front of the class and not with the students at the table. During computer exams they even have to put them in lockers, and the students are not allowed to bring anything with them into the computer room. I didn't have the luxury of lockers at my studies

• Watches must be removed, because the distinction between normal watches and smart watches is sometimes not visible, all watches must be removed before the exam starts. I don't even know how those watches work, but sometimes they show me how they calculate on them and are very proud of their watches. So I also have to babysit watches

• Calculators are often provided during the exam. My own calculators may only be used for a few exams. For the rest of the exams, a calculator must be provided by the educational institution. I think this was back than also like that

• Toilet visit during exams that last less than 2 hours are not allowed. It is allowed for exams that last longer, but with an other exam supervisor, who makes rounds around the exam rooms. Sometime the student have to wait long before they can go

• Exam supervisors are often retirees and not staff. During my exam time at the university, I can remember that exam supervisors were reading newspapers during exams and chatting with each other and asking me if I wanted coffee or tea. That is no longer allowed. But the students are happy to chat with me before and after an exam

• Nowadays the exam supervisors are present in the room fifteen minutes before time and students are then allowed to enter. There is no longer any excuse to be late! The door is closed just in time, and no one is allowed in after the exam starts. The students are allowed to leave fifteen minutes after the start of the exam

• Nothing but my own stuff out! I used to take my draft or assignment sheet with me after the exam in my days, this was allowed and I could compare with other students my answers. Now everything has to be handed in even notes (Kladblaadje) if that is allowed to be used during the exam. And the supervisor has to collect them and sort them. Everthing has to be checked and matched with the attendence list I let the student sign.

Well, it's nice to sit on the other side of the table and look and see it with different eyes.