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Firstly, we’d like to state that this petition by no means intends to offend any staff or advisors of Rangitoto College and is simply here to present the many opinions regarding the decision to replace Entrance Exams with the Online Assessment Procedure. We apologize if any offence is taken.

On the 12th of October, the students* of Rangitoto College were informed that the Entrance Exams set to start on the 19th of October were to be replaced with the Online Assessment Procedure. Many students and parents have rightfully expressed their concerns over this.

It’s not unknown that online assessments cause many problems for students, families and teachers. We believe that implementing the Online Assessment Procedure is the wrong decision and that there are many better alternative solutions.

Here are a couple of our reasons why:

1. Cheating
   The problem of cheating is one that is extensive in the classroom and one that will only be multiplied during the Online Assessments Procedure. Online assessments mean that many new avenues of cheating will be found. Regardless of the amount of “security” that may be implemented, students, especially in high-stress environments, are bound to find a way to better their grades, and for many academic dishonesty would unfortunately not be a stretch. When not cheating becomes a disadvantage, something is clearly wrong.
2. Invasion of Privacy
   Privacy is a leading concern for many students. In the email regarding online assessments sent to students of Rangitoto College, it was stated that, “You may be asked to provide a view of your room with the camera to ensure you have no extra material.” (Updated from “You may be asked to provide a view of your room with the camera” on the 14th October). Regardless of the reason, this is a clear violation of privacy- for not only the students but also their families. In no situation should a teacher be able to make the subjective decision that a student should be told to show their room and/or desk. By asking this, the teacher is pressuring the student to not only expose their room to their teacher but also to any other attendees on the call at that time.
3. Reconfigured assessments
   Due to the sudden change to online assessments, many exam questions may be “reconfigured” in order to fit into the time allocated for the assessments. This puts those who have studied with the use of previous exam questions and the expectation that they would be tested with a similar format at a disadvantage. This is, plainly put, unfair for these students and means that they are unable to show the true extent of their knowledge.
4. Lack of in-school education
   Considering the fact that the students at Rangitoto College have just experienced a 7-week period without in-school education, they should not be expected to perform at their full academic potential. By using the Online Assessments Procedure, they are forced to use the possibly limited knowledge obtained during their time in lockdown in a high-stress environment. In addition, students that are less able to retain knowledge during online learning, regardless of the reason are put at an even larger disadvantage.
5. Added Stress
   It’s no secret that online learning and anticipation for Entrance Exams have been a large cause of stress for students and the sudden announcement of a change in situation has only added to this. Students simply do not need the additional pressure and stress that online assessments will put and have already put on them. With the stress and uncertainty that covid19 already brings, the only thing online assessments will do is decrease the stability of our student's mental health and that is the last thing they need right now.
6. Unfair on Teachers
   Online learning has not only been a cause of stress for students but for teachers as well. We’re sure that the new addition of online assessments isn’t beneficial for them either. By introducing online assessments, teachers will likely have no choice but to learn new procedures, put extra work into forming these assessments and become at least in part responsible for holding students accountable within an online environment. The unrealistic expectation that online assessment brings is not only unsustainable and damaging for the mental health of the students but also the many teachers that it will also inevitably affect.
7. There are better options:
   Derived grades mean that teachers are able to use relevant works produced by students, to provide them with a grade that better reflects the student’s effort and true academic potential displayed throughout the year.
   Entrance Exams delayed and held in school means that students are able to experience what NCEA exams will entail allowing them to be better prepared when it comes time to sit them, this is particularly relevant for year 11s who have likely never experienced these exams.
   Optional assessments mean that students are able to resit a standard they believe they could do better on. Much like the Mcat for this year, the student's grade will be taken from the assessment they do better on, whether that be the topic test or the retest.
   By using these methods instead of the Online Assessment Procedure, we are able to minimize the influence that the longest Covid19 lockdown we have experienced as well as the stress that comes with it will have on the NCEA exam grades our students will receive. They will have more time to ask teachers questions, reaffirm knowledge, revisit rushed content, learn new information that could improve understanding, and ensure that they are well equipped going into exam season.

These 7 points are just some of the many reasons why cancelling the Online Assessments Procedure will be beneficial for students, families, and teachers alike during this immeasurable time of stress, we call Covid19.

* Students: All students at Rangitoto College studying NCEA that has been or will be affected by the change of Entrance Exams to the Online Assessment Procedure.