browolf Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 (edited) During exams and mocks we have to find laptops to link for projectors for web clocks. We've trained the invigilators to a degree to handle problems or setting them up but we still have to check every room at the start of every exam just in case. I'd much prefer a system they can handle entirely by themselves with very little possibility of error. My thoughts are 1. a digital clock with a hdmi output 2. a android app like "big digital clock" but android device needs to support MHL in order for micro usb to vga to work. 3. A raspberry pi with a some kind of automatic digital clock. Edited January 9, 2020 by browolf
NetworkNinja Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Could you not just use a normal wall clock? Thats how it works here and the invigilators work out the finish time from when the exam starts. 2
TomHD Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Have you contacted the supplier on Alibaba yet? I have had some success with getting orders below the minimum order by making contact, just expect to pay a little more per unit
FishCustard Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 I'd use an RPi and a bit of custom software - even just HTML/JS would do.
browolf Posted January 9, 2020 Author Posted January 9, 2020 I'd use an RPi and a bit of custom software - even just HTML/JS would do. I like the challenge of the raspberry pi way.
dhicks Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 A raspberry pi with a some kind of automatic digital clock. A Raspberry Pi set up to automatically boot, log in and bring up, say, dclock, in full-screen mode? The Raspberry Pi is small enough to blutack / velcro / etc to the side of a portable projector if needed, and some projectors might even be able to provide enough power via USB to run the Pi without having to use a separate power brick (the Pi 3 might do better at that, with lower power requirements). I have an existing Python script that does an all-in-one-go configuration of a Raspberry Pi to be set up for various uses, I could see about adding a "clock" setup if that would be useful. 2
browolf Posted January 9, 2020 Author Posted January 9, 2020 A Raspberry Pi set up to automatically boot, log in and bring up, say, dclock, in full-screen mode? The Raspberry Pi is small enough to blutack / velcro / etc to the side of a portable projector if needed, and some projectors might even be able to provide enough power via USB to run the Pi without having to use a separate power brick (the Pi 3 might do better at that, with lower power requirements). I have an existing Python script that does an all-in-one-go configuration of a Raspberry Pi to be set up for various uses, I could see about adding a "clock" setup if that would be useful. That would be awesome.
howartp Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 ExamInvigilator: Invigilation Made Easy We've used it for years now. 1
RLR Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Could you not just use a normal wall clock? Thats how it works here and the invigilators work out the finish time from when the exam starts. This is what we do still. I've thought about letting the exams team know about other bits of software for clocks or even the exam clock website but then I thought it would just be another thing IT would have to do and make sure worked. I'd rather them stick to using their own wall clocks. 2
jthompson Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Radio controlled wall clocks and whiteboards here. I don't think it's ever crossed anyone's mind to do it any other way. 2
DrBeaker Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Could you not just use a normal wall clock? Thats how it works here and the invigilators work out the finish time from when the exam starts. Just my 2-cents, but in an exam situation students of GCSE level should surely be able to at least tell the start time and end time and hopefully be able to figure out how much time is remaining in the exam? Why does this require an IT solution? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/04/24/schools-removing-analogue-clocks-exam-halls-teenagers-unable/
DrBeaker Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 This is what we do still. I've thought about letting the exams team know about other bits of software for clocks or even the exam clock website but then I thought it would just be another thing IT would have to do and make sure worked. I'd rather them stick to using their own wall clocks. My logic is as wall clocks come under the responsibility of the site/estates team, therefore so should exam hall clocks and NOT IT.
browolf Posted January 9, 2020 Author Posted January 9, 2020 This is what we do still. I've thought about letting the exams team know about other bits of software for clocks or even the exam clock website but then I thought it would just be another thing IT would have to do and make sure worked. I'd rather them stick to using their own wall clocks. It was probably our suggestion in the first place to use the projector in the drama theatre. In the sports hall they use a big tv on a stand.
DrBeaker Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 It was probably our suggestion in the first place to use the projector in the drama theatre. In the sports hall they use a big tv on a stand. Who sets that up though? Don't get me wrong I don't mind helping and supporting staff, but there's a limit - to the point when I'm having to do their job for them. What if the power goes off, what if the internet freezes, PC crashes, page freezes etc. Remember KISS. No need for a fancy wall clock. Why do we still do exam papers by hand - because it works - and the IT tech is too unreliable in an exam situation for a country full of kids sitting the exams at the same time. Right tool for the right job.
hardtailstar Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Could you not just use a normal wall clock? Thats how it works here and the invigilators work out the finish time from when the exam starts. Thats what we do. Every invigilator team for rooms get given a clock and that is put up somewhere in the room if there isn't a clock in the room. 1
dhicks Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 I have an existing Python script that does an all-in-one-go configuration of a Raspberry Pi to be set up for various uses, I could see about adding a "clock" setup if that would be useful. Depending on the size of the room involved, a simple projection clock might be suitible - from about £12 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=projection+clocks If you do want to configure a Raspberry Pi or old PC / laptop as a dedicated device that just displays a clock, try my device configuration script, available on Github: https://github.com/dhicks6345789/device-config You will first need a device with a basic install of Raspbian set up and connected to your local network via wired or wireless network. You can clone the above project with Git and run the "config.py" script via sudo, or use this handy single-line command: curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dhicks6345789/device-config/master/config.py > config.py; sudo python3 config.py; rm config.py You will be presented with a couple of menu options - select option 2 ("Client Environments") and then option 4 ("Exam Clock"). The setup will run and the system will reboot. Note: running the above setup will result in a Raspbian system that does nothing but load up dclock - there will be no desktop visible or anything like that. Don't run this script on any device you do anything else with. 1
ass17 Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 (edited) Where possible using a big screen and projector use this software it’s perfect.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULxXy6ywrcQ http://examscreen.co.uk/ We don’t use anything else other than this and normal clocks and pens/whiteboards. Edited January 9, 2020 by ass17 1
fiza Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 We have used these since last year. Not cheap but exactly what SLT wanted. 4" 4DIGITS LED Countdown&CountUP stopwatch and Clock Red Color Hours Minutes https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01E855N1I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_jc5fEbG20WT77 1
browolf Posted January 16, 2020 Author Posted January 16, 2020 Depending on the size of the room involved, a simple projection clock might be suitible - from about £12 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=projection+clocks If you do want to configure a Raspberry Pi or old PC / laptop as a dedicated device that just displays a clock, try my device configuration script, available on Github: https://github.com/dhicks6345789/device-config Great!. First I'm going to do this with the technology department https://howchoo.com/g/mwnlytk3zmm/how-to-add-a-power-button-to-your-raspberry-pi
localzuk Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 I have to say this thread is a great example of making something more complicated than it needs to be. Buy clocks! Stick a whiteboard up. When the exam starts, write the time it started and the time it ends on the whiteboard. Done! If you have a big room, buy a bunch of radio controlled clocks, and spread them around the room. Why is this an IT issue at all!? 3
Garacesh Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 (edited) I have to say this thread is a great example of making something more complicated than it needs to be. Buy clocks! Stick a whiteboard up. When the exam starts, write the time it started and the time it ends on the whiteboard. Done! If you have a big room, buy a bunch of radio controlled clocks, and spread them around the room. Why is this an IT issue at all!? Kinda have to agree. We hang a couple of decent-sized digital clocks on the walls, which everyone can read (some of our SEN kids never got the hang of analogue clocks, plus kids are more used to digital now 'cause of technology) Then whoever is running the show writes START: ##:## and END: ##:## on a board, which they also announce as they start the exam "The time is now X, the finishing time will be Y, extra time have until Z. You may begin." Done. Edited January 16, 2020 by Garacesh 1
FishCustard Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 Come on, if you ask a bunch of engineers the best way to do something you'll always get N+1 answers, where N is the number of participants! I agree that sometimes the simplest answers are best however!
Davit2005 Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 I've so many times being called to exam locations on the past and it always is something that the users are doing wrong and the invigilators/teachers have not picked up on. Personally I would not want to put a reliance on any form of IT more than necessary KISS. 1
jthompson Posted January 16, 2020 Posted January 16, 2020 Exams is definitely something where the KISS principle ought to be applied wherever possible. Eliminate any potential source of avoidable stress for all involved. Even if only for the sake of invigilator training. 1
Davit2005 Posted January 22, 2020 Posted January 22, 2020 Radio controlled wall clocks and whiteboards here. I don't think it's ever crossed anyone's mind to do it any other way. Lol, was once called to a classroom because the Radio sync'd clock was not working, yeah the battery had failed. The member of staff seemed surprised that it did not get its power over the airwaves too
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