Introduction

This policy is intended to address the use by students of any electronic devices during lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, tests and examinations. The policy includes the previous policy on calculators in tests and examinations. It also addresses more recent concerns about the misuse of laptop computers, cell phones, PDAs, iPods and other such devices during lectures and other classes.

This policy is designed to improve the learning environment for students and to enhance fairness in tests and examinations.

[Also see the related Policy on the Conduct of Final Examinations.]

1. Calculators in Tests and Examinations

1.1 The default policy in all terms is as follows: Only calculators, which have none of the following features, may be used in final examinations, term tests and quizzes:

• text storage
• graphics capability
• apacity to solve matrix equations
• programmable

1.2 In courses in Terms 3 to 8, each individual instructor may, in the course outline, amend these restrictions on the use of calculators in examinations, term tests and quizzes. Clear guidance must be given to students, in the course outline, as to what types of calculator capabilities are permitted in examinations, term tests and quizzes.

1.3 The definition of a “calculator” shall exclude any device that can:

• communicate with other devices and/or
• accept external/removable memory

Examples are Palm Pilots and cell phones. Such devices are not permitted in tests and examinations, unless clearly stated otherwise in the course outline.

1.4 Students entering Engineering One shall be informed of the calculator policy at the earliest feasible time, through the inclusion of a statement in the package that goes out with each student’s acceptance letter and in the orientation meeting on or just before the first day of classes.

1.5 Instructors who wish to alter restrictions on the use of calculators should be advised to consider the ability of some modern calculators to perform symbolic algebraic manipulation and/or symbolic calculus operations.

1.6 Instructors may, if they wish, impose a total ban on all calculators in examinations, term tests and/or quizzes in their course(s).

1.7 This policy leaves individual instructors free to determine their own policy on calculators for their own courses, but it does provide some safeguards.

1.8 This policy does not apply to courses that do not have an “ENGI” course number. The policy of the academic unit offering such courses will apply instead.

2. Electronic Dictionaries in Tests and Examinations

Electronic dictionaries (or paper dictionaries) may only be used during quizzes, tests or examinations with the permission of the instructor or if an accommodation for a student is requested by the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre. It is assumed that a student who registers for courses at this University has a command of the English language that is sufficient for those courses.

3. Computers in Tests and Examinations

3.1 Students may not use laptop computers or other portable computers during quizzes, tests or examinations unless the instructor grants permission for their use or if an accommodation for a student is requested by the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre.

3.2 A course may include, in the course outline, a requirement that part of the evaluation of the course take place in a laboratory with the use of computers.

4. Computers in Classes

Students may not use computers during lectures, tutorials, seminars or laboratory sessions unless the instructor grants permission for their use or if an accommodation for a student is requested by the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre.

5. Cell Phones and Personal Entertainment Devices

5.1 Unless the instructor directs otherwise, students must deactivate all cell phones and other communication devices and put them away out of sight at the start of each lecture, tutorial, seminar, laboratory session, quiz, test or examination.

5.2 Unless the instructor directs otherwise, students must deactivate all personal entertainment devices (such as iPods and portable CD/DVD players) and put them away out of sight at the start of each lecture, tutorial, seminar or laboratory session, quiz, test or examination.

5.3 Personal digital assistants (PDAs, such as Palm Pilots) may not be used during any lecture, tutorial, seminar or laboratory session, except with the consent of the instructor. These devices are not permitted during quizzes, tests or examinations.

5.4 Headphones and earphones may only be used with the permission of the instructor or if an accommodation for a student is requested by the Glenn Roy Blundon Centre.

_{This policy replaces the Calculator Policy that was approved by Faculty Council on 226-11-2003. It takes effect from the 2007 Fall semester}