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Electricians need to live in the real world

lyledunn

“Electricians need to live in the real world”. That was the response by a chief examiner from City and Guilds to a question posed by the IET’s own doyen of sartorial elegance, Mr Mark Coles when he asked the chief examiner if electronic copies of BS7671 could be used in future exams. “Oh no” said the chief examiner, “electricians need to understand how to source information from the book.” Perhaps what he meant to say was that City and Guilds are very protective of a well-embedded revenue stream and that any attempt to facilitate online exams using the electronic book would require a complete and expensive engine change. Anyway, moving forward, its the paper version of the 7671 for those sparks living in the real world!

It wasn’t apparent if Mr Coles agreed with the chief examiner, but in his effort not to be contrary, but without being deferential, Mr Coles had the last word, “ah well, maybe some time in the future”. At least that will offer a tiny glimmer of hope for us sparks who do not live in the real world!

  • in reply to Simon Ogborn

    Well now, I owe Mr Ogborn an apology and I do so with sincerity. I wrote the original post from memory a week after looking at the video. I was sipping a Guinness while cruising down the River Shannon at the time and had been ruminating on the continuing use of paper books in online exams, which particularly annoys me, for some reason. 

    Anyway, I was wrong to frame my post as I did. Nonetheless, I cannot fathom why 26 years after the turn of the century City and Guilds (and others) have not come up with a method of assessment that does not require access to a paper book, especially with just about everyone deferring to their phone, Ipad or PC when they don't know the answer to something. Using Mr Ogborns own analogy, it might be a poor excuse for cocking something up because "I left the book at home.........your honour"!

  • in reply to lyledunn
    lyledunn said:
    especially with just about everyone deferring to their phone, Ipad or PC when they don't know the answer to something

    Isn't that the problem?

    If I understand Simon correctly, you fundamentally need to be able to navigate around BOB, not demonstrate that you can use AI.

    I don't think that paper v digital is the issue. Candidates could be provided with a digital version on a tablet. But then, they would not be able to highlight or use tab.

    I thought that Simon's advice was spot on, and what I was taught. I liked the comment that if you highlight too much, it is the white bits which stick out. :-) I still have the tabs in my first edition of BS 7671.

    There is nothing new about exam technique. I have heard somebody say, decades ago, "I didn't have time for the third question." So the maximum mark is 67%, more likely 90% x 67% = 60%; whereas slightly less effort on the first two questions might mean 80% x 67% = 54% plus say, 50% x 33% = 17% for the third giving a total of 70% (allowing for rounding).

    It could make the difference between an Atilla and a Desmond.

  • Just watched it, thanks Simon, and Mark if you are here.

    I understand the need for a clean paper copy to bring into exams, with paper tabs on certain pages but no highlights with ink. If I have that right.

    And understand the reticence of exam boards allowing phones, tablets etc into exams

     But the exam is done on a computer, surely there could be a copy of bs7671 on there too? The exam boards will then have control of how much access they allow. Obviously the index could take you to individual sections, but the search facility should be disabled.

    People could then chose to use the computer, or the book, or both.

    Doesn't seem like a step change is needed and could be implemented pretty quickly.

    There is a matter of subscriptions of course but I'm sure an agreement could be reached amicably between exam boards and BSI Slight smile

  • in reply to OlympusMons

    I assume if it is something like C&G 2391 exam, then they would/should have access to

    IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671)
    IET Guidance Note 3: Inspection & Testing
    IET On-Site Guide

    However I do see a potential issue.  Lets say the person does the exam and does NOT get enrolled in a CPS (Cash Paying Scheme sorry I meant Competent Person Scheme) then what other factors will encourage then to buy the books listed above?

  • in reply to gkenyon

    As a student (who has just finished a big group building design project in which I was working to a number of ASHRAE standards), although I get access to lots of standards online, I found the anti-piracy protections really irritating! Perhaps there's something I haven't worked out yet and/or some of the restrictions are particular to my organisation, but when I picked up a big paper handbook from the library I thoroughly enjoyed being able to flick through pages without having to wait for them to load, and not needing to log in through a portal for every use. 

    That said, I did notice the difference when I returned the handbook and stopped lugging around the extra kilos! In my opinion there is a strong case for both media.

  • in reply to Sergio Fernandez
    Sergio Fernandez said:
    IET Guidance Note 3: Inspection & Testing
    IET On-Site Guide

    These are not required for CPS registration.

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