Calculator Disable Re-enable Mechanism for Exam Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld programmable calculators, particularly graphing calculators, pose a challenge in educational settings as they can be programmed with Apps and information that provide unfair advantages during exams, necessitating the removal and subsequent re-loading of content, which is time-consuming and burdensome for teachers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a disable/re-enable capability in handheld calculators using a microprocessor and storage unit with a disable/re-enable program that temporarily renders Apps and programs inaccessible via specific keystroke sequences or network communications, allowing for quick disabling and re-enabling without erasing data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Apps and programs are deleted from the calculator to ensure exam fairness, then exam security is improved, but the time required to restore programs increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating and storing backup copies of calculator programs and Apps before the exam period begins. These backups are prepared in advance and stored in a designated memory location, so that when programs need to be removed for exam security, they can be quickly restored from the pre-prepared backups rather than being re-downloaded or re-programmed from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses copying by creating duplicate copies of calculator programs and storing them in a separate backup memory area. The original programs remain intact in their functional locations, while identical copies are maintained in backup storage. This allows the calculator to switch between having programs accessible and having them effectively removed, without the time-consuming process of re-creating the programs.
2Reliability
If programs and Apps are made inaccessible during exams, then exam fairness is improved, but teacher workload increases due to manual removal and re-loading processes
Solution Approach 1:
The calculator system performs the program removal and restoration operations automatically without requiring manual teacher intervention. The calculator itself manages the program accessibility by switching between enabled and disabled states based on exam conditions, eliminating the need for teachers to manually remove and re-load programs. This self-service capability significantly reduces teacher workload while maintaining exam fairness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a backup memory system and automated management software that mediates between the need for program accessibility during instruction and the need for program inaccessibility during exams. This intermediary layer handles the complex operations of program copying, storing, and restoring, shielding teachers from the technical complexity and time-consuming nature of these tasks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If calculators maintain full functionality for instructional benefits, then educational value is improved, but cheating potential increases during exams
Solution Approach 1:
The calculator system dynamically adjusts its functionality based on the operational context. During instructional periods, the calculator maintains full program and App accessibility to maximize educational value and allow students to utilize learned functions. During exam periods, the system automatically disables access to user-programmed Apps and stored information while maintaining basic calculator functions. This dynamic adaptability allows the same device to serve both educational and assessment purposes effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The calculator's program storage is segmented into different categories with different access permissions. User-programmed Apps and stored information are separated from the core calculator operating system and built-in functions. This segmentation allows the system to selectively disable only the user-added content during exams while preserving the essential calculator functionality needed for taking exams, thus reducing cheating potential without completely compromising instructional value.
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld calculator with disable/re-enable capability. The calculator includes a keypad, a display screen, and circuitry internal to the calculator. The circuitry includes a microprocessor, a storage unit for storing data and programs for execution by the microprocessor to implement calculator functions. The storage unit has stored therein a disable/re-enable program that recognizes a first predetermined calculator event and in response thereto disables one or more programs, and that recognizes a second predetermined calculator event and in response thereto re-enables the disabled program. The invention allows Apps, programs and additional information that may be embedded within the Apps and programs in a calculator or other handheld calculating device to be rendered temporarily inaccessible within a relatively short period of time, and then to be restored to the calculator, again, in a relatively short period of time.