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"CW: In-Class Essay" Case

Case Description

Ricardo is in an entry-level Philosophy class fulfilling a general education requirement at his college. Because of a learning disability, Ricardo has permission to tape lectures, copy classmates' notes, and take extra time on tests, if needed. The professor gives the class midterm, which consists of multiple-choice questions and short-essays. Although Ricardo frequently participates in class discussions and appears knowledgeable about class material, the professor notes that he scores poorly on the midterm. When the professor speaks with Ricardo after class, Ricardo says he would perform better if he could "talk out" his test.

What should the professor do?

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Case Responses

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Response 1.
The professor should ask Ricardo if he has been granted any other testing accommodations, besides extra time, by the Disability Support Services (DSS) office. If the office says "talking out" an exam is a reasonable accommodation, then the professor can agree to meet with Ricardo during office hours for the next test.
Response 2.
The professor can be flexible and invite Ricardo to take the next test in the professor's office. There, the professor can read the questions to Ricardo which might trigger Ricardo's word retrieval, helping to narrow Ricardo's thought processes to determine the correct responses. Ricardo could answer the short essays orally to demonstrate his knowledge, as he does in group discussions
Response 3.
Ricardo has been given extended time, and allowing anything else, including "talking out" his ideas, would be an unfair advantage.