1. OCT:
Open Computer Testing
What matters is no longer what one knows, but
what one can do with what one knows and with
information one can access, evaluate, and apply
Scott Morris, Ph.D. & Jonathan Martin
St. Gregory College Preparatory School (AZ)

2. What do we want for our students?
21st c. skills and mindsets: Critical Thinking,
Information Literacy, Collaboration
Authentic, real-world situated problem solving skills
Lasting understanding of concepts
Stronger Skills in Using tools they are already most
familiar and comfortable with.
Preparation for professional careers

3. Assessment matters:
Drives instruction
Motivates (or demotivates)
Communicates Priorities
Defines mastery

4. From BBC News, about Denmark
At five to nine, the room falls silent. One of the teachers
stands in front of the class and explains the rules. She
tells the candidates they can use the internet to answer
any of the four questions. They can access any site they
like, even Facebook, but they cannot message each
other or email anyone outside the classroom.
Minister for education in Denmark, Bertel Haarder, says:
“Our exams have to reflect daily life in the classroom and
daily life in the classroom has to reflect life in
society. The internet is indispensable, including in the
exam situation. I’m sure that is would be a matter of very
few years when most European countries will be on the
same line.”

5. History of the “Idea”
1:1 laptop initiative
“boring” chemistry
Increasingly powerful tools
Impressive resources
Student enthusiasm

6. Advantages
Less memorization
Teaches organization/problem
solving
Teaches preparation
Encourages collaboration
Reduces frustration
Expands palate of questions

7. Illustration
Video

8. The Takeaways
For Schools, OCT provides a vehicle to prioritize
and drive instruction toward 21st century skills,
applied thinking, and better preparation for future
careers.
For Teachers, OCT entails rethinking assessment
and designing “google-proof” questions which
demand higher order thinking and information
literacy and assess more lasting understanding.
For Students, OCT when well designed is
rigorous, and more authentic, more motivating,
and requires greater information access, analysis,
and application skills, better organization, and
stronger real-world problemsolving skills.

9. For more,
including sample exams:
21k12blog.net/oct