I think it should remain closed book. There is not enough time for the exam to look up each answer and in the past have had employees not study for the exam because it was an open book exam and they assumed that it would be enough time to look up the answers

I recently took the closed book exam and it was not hard at all I think the open book test would keep individuals from studying the material and brush off the test. I passed the exam closed book because I studied and prepared for the test. If the exam goes back to open book I think the questions should be more. 

The exam should remain closed book; if an individual seeks to gain this license, they should make sufficient preparations to be fully prepared to take the exam without assistance from a study guide. 

I personally have never taken an open book test. If you study you pass. All information on the test is in the book. Like my teacher used to say write it on your brain. These are environmental codes and you should know them not just read them.  

I THANK THEY SHOULD GO BACK TO OPEN BOOK EXAM. BECAUSE THE INSPECTORS EVEN GO BACK TO THE BOOK TO LOOK UP AND REFERENCE THE CODES. DEQ IS ADDING NEW CODES TO THE BOOK ALL THE TIME ALONG WITH THE EPA I'VE LEARN THE CODES WHEN I DID THE TEST AND UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IF IT'S A OPEN BOOK EXAM THAT YOU HAVE TO STUDY FOR THE EXAM THERE IS A LOT OF CODES THAT HAVE TO BE REMEMBERED.

I think the exam should be open book, reason being, some students may very well know the material, but get fogged when taking an exam from anxiety. The book is just a tool as inspectors still use them when they have to look up an issue or have specific questions when on different sites. Again, you still have to know the material and study, but having a tool when you need it is helpful. Everyone doesn't remember every detail about every topic. 

The Waste Management Operators Exam should be an open book exam. Having taken (and passed) the exam when it was open book, I can't imagine trying to recall specific measurements and quantities that can sometimes vary between all the different types of waste facilities covered by the exam. Even today, I need to periodically look up information in the regulations.

The classes, exam prep and exam helped me learn the regulations and more importantly how to look up the information should I need to recall it in the future. The purpose of the exam shouldn't be whether you can memorize all of the details of the regulations, but rather do you understand the fundamentals and know how to look up the specifics.

I think the test should go back to open book. I was trying to get my class 1 license and I missed 1 question to many and it was because they ask you questions about a landfill and that is not what I was taking the test for. In my opinion you can not learn and retain all that is in the book not with all the numbers and meaning and definitions of the information that is in the book. 

I’ve taken courses and exams both ways. In my opinion, Open Book affords students the opportunity to revisit the items learned during classroom and study which allows for better retention of the materials. We want the individual to learn but also be able to know where to look up information on an as needed basis. I’m certain folks here have a plethora of certifications and certificates on various subjects, yet still have to reference materials for guidance and clarification from time to time. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.  Happy Learning, All. 

I agree with having the open book test. As others have mentioned the book is a place to look up information on regulations that may not be used daily.   

I think the exam should remain closed book. It kept me on my toes and gave me the willingness to put some study time in.

I believe reintroducing the open-book exam would be beneficial. It's crucial for individuals to grasp that despite the presence of resources, success still hinges on thorough preparation. With time constraints in mind, it becomes clear that looking up every answer is impractical. Prioritizing one's existing knowledge is essential, followed by utilizing available resources as needed. In the real world, it's unlikely that many operators have every regulation committed to memory.

Since the book will always be available for reference(for day-to-day operation), all you test with a closed-book test is memory. Some people have better memories than others, but that doesn't make them better operators.

Please consider the negative impacts of a closed-book testing platform. The exam was administered successfully as open-book for years, and many current licensees who tested this way are effectively performing their duties.  Forcing memorization of text materials to pass the test is potentially counterproductive if the ability to efficiently utilize the resource documents is lost in the process.  The logic of training licensees to pick up the reference book and proficiently access the broad range of data therein at any given point in time throughout their career is a higher skillset than temporarily reproducing data for a test and then likely failing to retain much of it. As regulations and industry standards are in a constant state of evolutionary development, the skill of knowing which source document applies and how to search its contents to solve problems and perform safe, efficient, and compliant operations is the higher goal of any related proficiency testing.  Negative impacts on workforce recruitment and long-term career advancement need to be factored into the consideration of the testing platform.  The prospect of a closed-book testing platform may well yield the unintended consequence of deterring generally capable and willing professionals away from a tenured career in solid waste management if their learning style is not congruent with memorization of this volume of data, yet with proper training in the use of regulatory and operational manuals, they could be successful in their roles and demonstrate this skill through their licensure testing and continuing education.  In a world where many entering or navigating the workforce have been encouraged to seek work in computer information technology or other generally non-manual industries, significant focus should be applied to the ability to attract, recruit, train, and advance individuals with the fortitude and commitment to enter the solid waste industry. Providing a reasonable path to licensure is essential to the long-term sustainability of the industry, and returning to the open-book testing model keeps these opportunities more accessible to a broader population. 

I prefer the open book test, Because I had my book very organized with pertinent or major topics highlighted for reference.  This made things easier to go to, thus saving me time.   

I do not understand why the exam was ever made closed book. You will always have your materials with you in the field if needed. Also, I do not think that making this exam open book would prohibit anyone from studying. Everyone knows this exam is notoriously difficult and time restrictive. 

I think that the open book option would be beneficial. In the workplace, the book would be accessible. The time constraint on the exam in conjunction with the amount of material would still make the exam competitive. Serious candidates would still need to study in order to pass. 

With the test being open book, while candidates are studying, they will be more likely to absorb the information and shift the focus to applying the material to real situations rather than memorizing. This may also reduce testing anxiety and be a better evaluation of the individual's knowledge.

I feel that open book exam is less stressful than closed book and help boast the confidence of exam takers. Although it is time consuming to revert to your book during the exam it is simplified when adding a self-prepared glossary tabs within your book to help with finding locations of answers to minimize the search. While creating my glossary, it actually allowed me to retain a lot of the information more clearly.     

I believe having closed book exams helped me to study and prepare myself more for the testing, resulting in me converting more of the information to memory as opposed to looking the information up on the spot. I believe this retention of information will assist me in the future.

The test is a good measure of knowledge of the regulations. Knowing the top line regulations is important in the day to day management of a site. The nitty gritty details can be looked up, but having a base line of the regulations makes decision making easier and will have a bigger impact on overall compliance. I think being able to recall this info should be a priority, so keeping the test closed book, or doing a split (closed book for top line, open book for details because you should also know where the info is that is relevant and be able to locate it in the regulations material).

I took the Class 1 Facility Operators Exam 17 years ago at an H&R Block Tax office in DC.   It was an open book exam at that time.  However, I would never have been able to complete the test if I had to rely on the book to look up each answer.  I believe there were three questions that I had to look up in the book to provide the exact answer, but it was only my familiarity with the regulations that allowed me to find the information quickly enough to complete the test in the time allotted.  I'd recommend a closed book exam. 

I feel that it should be open book because I have my book highlighted and marked for reference.  It makes the exam less stressful.

In September 2023, I successfully navigated the challenges of the closed-book Class 2 certification exam. My approach to studying was methodical, which I believe contributed significantly to my ability to pass what I found to be a very manageable exam. However, my personal experience aside, it's imperative for the board to critically evaluate the objectives they aim to achieve with this examination and the certification process at large.

The essence of closed-book testing lies in its ability to mandate a comprehensive mastery over a foundational body of knowledge. This is particularly crucial in the context of waste facility operations across the Commonwealth. While it's a given that operators will consult regulatory documents throughout their careers, the necessity for a preliminary knowledge benchmark cannot be overstated. It instills confidence among the Commonwealth and the general public that operators are not only familiar with but are also operating within the bounds of established laws and regulations.

Should there be a shift back to open-book testing, it's essential that the examination undergoes a significant overhaul to emphasize higher-order cognitive skills, such as situational analysis and evaluation. This would ensure that examinees are not merely searching for answers within their materials but are also engaging in critical thinking to devise solutions. Maintaining the current test format while transitioning to an open-book format would likely fail to capture the depth of a candidate's understanding and mastery of the material.

Open book exams does not test your knowledge all it does is test how quickly you can scan the book to find the answers.  If you don't want to put forth the effort to learn and study for the exam then you certainly should not have the job.  In the field, you don't always have access to the books and may have to make a spur of the moment decision.  This is only be done if you comprehend what you study.

When learning any new task I don't believe the goal is to know everything about the task before beginning.  Exam takers go through a class prior to taking the exam to learn the critical elements of the subject.  The exam however, may include specific details not covered in the class.  I don't think exam takers should be expected to memorize an entire book in order to pass an exam.  This is why I believe the exam should be open book.  If someone is not familiar with the material, even if the exam is open book, they are not going to pass.  There simply is not enough time to find the answer to every exam question.

I appreciate the Board seeking comments on the subject of the closed or open book exam. 

I TOOK THE EXAM TWICE IN 2010.  IT WAS OPEN BOOK BOTH TIMES.  I HAVE A CLASS IV LICENSE SO MOST OF THE TEST AND THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO MY CERTIFICATION AREA OF PRACTICE.  WITHOUT AN OPEN BOOK TEST I THINK THAT IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO PASS THE EXAM.  

WHEN I TOOK THE EXAM 14 YEARS AGO; I REMEMBER THAT THE QUESTIONS WERE SOMEWHAT ABIGUOUS AND IN SOME CASES 'WRONG'  IN THESE CASES I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE TEXT IN THE BOOK REFERRED TO IN THE TEST QUESTION BUT THE POSSIBLE ANSWER WAS NOT ON THE TEST PAGE.  

IN THE PREPARATION FOR THE SECOND TIME I STUDIED VERY DILIGENTLY AND KNEW THE MATERIAL.  THE OPEN BOOK STILL HELPED IMMENSELY.  AFTER I COMPLETED THE TEST I SPENT SEVERAL MINUTES LISTING THE DISCREPANCIES I DISCOVERED. 

SO MY SUGGESTION IS TO CREATE QUESTIONS THAT ARE DIRECTLY QUOTING THE LAW.  I WOULD PREFER AN OPEN BOOK TEST IN ORDER TO BETTER KNOW THE CLASS I THROUGH III TEST ITEMS. 

I ALSO SUGGEST REVISIONS TO THE CLASS IV PORTIONS OF THE LAW THAT PROVIDE MORE DETAILS AND BETTER TECHNICAL EXPLANATION OF METHODS AND REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS.  

MY VOTE IS FOR OPEN BOOK TESTING.

HWI understands that that the failure rate has greatly increased under the closed-book policy. And, based on our members’ experience, the open-book test was still challenging. Without specific knowledge, passing the test would have been very challenging even with the training manual available.  

We believe that operators should know where to look in the operations manual for specific information. Given that, the test should reflect an applicant’s thorough familiarity with the operations manual to successfully pass the test. This replicates actual operating procedures at permitted facilities.   

Research supports this. According to a paper by Beth Johanns, Amber Dinkens, and Jill Moore entitled A systematic review comparing open-book and closed-book examinations: Evaluating effects on development of critical thinking skills, open book exams promote critical thinking skills, require higher ordering thinking skills, and similate the working environment. Further, students prefer them because it decreases their anxiety.

The initial coursework from initial and continuing education training classes are very comprehensive. We favor of reinstating the open-book test.