Yes - for those who struggle with school it can make a difference, whether that’s in confidence they achieved something academically when they haven’t previously, or used it to get jobs/get further education - I’ve seen it both way and it’s absolutely worth having them
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There’s a difference between an open book exam, and the completely non invigilated tests we did on ultilearn. Lots of BTECs use workbooks but there was no moderation or accountability in the way the RAFAC one was managed.
There is nothing wrong with open book tests, if set up properly, with a timed element so you still need to have some knowledge to know where to look.
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What happened to the GCSE in Air Navigation? A mate of mine used that to strengthen his UCAS points.
Sorry, but simply not the case as viewed from the coalface. The digital team may be busy, but they are completely under resourced and we are still waiting on things that were promised when Volunteer Portal etc were announced. Admin processes do not make use of technology to reduce the admin burden, like it should.
Investment in IT has a massive potential to improve - directly and indirectly - so many things in this organisation but to describe it as “continuing at pace” makes you sound incredibly out of touch with what volunteers do on a regular basis.
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For example, saving admin time by the system logging a home address and a venue address and then issuing travel money for the default option of driving and the appropriate VA approved for an event would save hours of everyone’s lives, yet I understand that all these things are still printed, signed, sent by email finally?
I mean for crying out loud, how are y’all still so obsessed with “wet signatures”?
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Still fighting the good fight to try and get ACTO 099 training to show when Learn craps out or service instructors have done training elsewhere.
Improvements have been slow, but we’re getting there. 12 months in and still fixes to implement.
Digital first - but often pushed into use before it actually works.
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It’s amazing isn’t it, I bet RCs and TSAs don’t have to do 2 lots of climatic injuries and yet the response to service instructors is often they have to do both to be part of our org.
Sometimes it’s not the tech but the policy/people.
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Having within the last 6 months returned to the organisation as a CI I have to say I’m dismayed by the absolute shambles the Bader system is and for that matter the admin burden.
When I left in Sept 2018 there was no volunteer portal and Cadet Portal was just in its early gestation.
As ever assistance from management is promised but usually fails to materialise .Pretty much the moment I came back I was asked to go back into uniform.I won’t be doing that anytime soon.
The IT is poor even the font used is poor on SMS and other systems.It all seems set up to frustrate rather than assist.
Until you can t access the internet and you are out in the hinterlands with no connectivity.
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Proper exam conditions in my day.
You don’t even need to be out in the sticks.
The last Sqn I was at, more than three people on the internet and the whole thing ground to a halt. The Sqn was operating on a 4g router and due to the layout of the Sqn, across two buildings, only one building has internet access, yet the other building had the better classroom facilities. Fine when you could stick the lessons on a memory stick and teach wherever, absolutely useless when everything needs internet access.
My current Sqn is still waiting for the civ com to upgrade the internet and IT equipment. The whole thing, outside of the main office is so slow it’s painful and the laptops are ten years ago so we’re battling to get anything done online. Again, split across two buildings, only one with internet access and again the other building has the better classroom facilities.
Both sites are shared with ACF and Reserves, there needs to be some joined up thinking on internet access as we all have our own!
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So what, we are a cadet organisation,not an academy filling in for educational deficiencies
Can you take your discussion about open book exams elsewhere and leave this thread to discussion the chaotic position the organisation and SW Region is in please.
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Training day at the sqn.
Cadets discussing the cancellation of events, including a camp, training events, etc. Not happy about it.
Low Morale is creeping towards our customers…
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Sssh dont tellnanyone you are training on a sunday, it may get stopped lol
Can we transfer to a new thread (sorry I dont know how to)
Yes, go and start one.
This would probably be the most appropriate one to merge to
Thought we could, didnt know how to do that
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