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University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 4:15:56 AM

SugarMyChurro

Posts: 1912
Joined: 4/26/2007
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I know several people at university right now. Most are in the middle of midterms exams, or just wrapping up. So here is my scenario:

-----

A chemistry midterm exam is given. The exam is 37 questions and 6 pages long. Each question has multiple parts and some are even essay style, short answer questions. There are some multiple choice questions, but almost all questions require at least some math and conversions. The math and conversions on the exam are often more difficult and seem to synthesize knowledge imparted during the lecture period leading to the exam - but the practice work during lectures and homework is never as hard as what is on the exam. The official time for the midterm is a single 50 minute class session, but the teacher allows students to arrive 30 minutes earlier and to stay 30 minutes later if they need to.

The chemistry class normally meets for three 50 minute sessions per week. The class is taught and the exam is given by a graduate student. This graduate student is known to take time away from class with substitute teachers filling in as he is also undergoing various evaluation processes toward a higher degree.

-----

It's been some time since I have been in school. Does that scenario sound familiar and fair to you? What might you do going forward? Presume that getting high marks is extremely important to you.

Post #: 1

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 5:34:41 AM

MsSonnetMarwood

Posts: 1898
Joined: 2/10/2005
From: Eastern Shore, Maryland
Status: offline

If getting the grades were important to me (and they are), I'd probably just suck it up and deal. If the extra time around class interferes with other classes you have scheduled, then I'd talk to the prof about taking it at a time where you can have the full 2 hours.

I had a marketing professor who would give exams that would take me about 3 hours to get through. The class was one hour twenty minutes, but he allowed us to take however long we needed on the exam. Out of a class of 30 or so, only a couple people would finish during the class time (and these were usually the folks who gave up on it and failed the test). Even though it took me forever to wade through the exam (not to mention the high stress factor of studying for them), I always got an A on them.

In college, there's always going to to be those classes that take a disproportionately large amount of time to wade through the work, and classes that require almost no out-of-class work. I find it usually balances out, and try to work my semester's schedule so that I don't take more than 2 out of 5 of the classes that have very high work loads on them.

< Message edited by MsSonnetMarwood -- 3/5/2008 5:38:21 AM >

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Post #: 2

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 5:39:40 AM

colouredin

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Joined: 2/2/2007
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We used to have lectures/seminars taken by PHD students they were always the enjoyable ones in which we got to debate and stuff but whether any knowledge was imparted is a very differant thing.

It works differantly in the UK all exams have set times, you can leave early but not late if the exam is 50 mins its 50 mins and its never taken by a lecturer anyways, its in a giant hall with students from other courses taking thir paper and is over seen by an invidulator who has nothing to do with the course.

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Post #: 3

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 6:11:29 AM

caitlyn

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There is only one play. Class, and the professor teaching it are a bonus. A student must plan on learning the material on their own.

Some might ask, what then is the purpose of higher education? I have been asking myself that for several years now. It seems like mostly a test of wills.

Fortunately, I'm in my last undergrad semester, and I'm only taking two classes at that. I wish I could say I planned it that way, but it was strictly an accident of scheduling.

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Post #: 4

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 6:30:01 AM

DesFIP

Posts: 25191
Joined: 11/25/2007
From: Apple County NY
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This is why they invented studying. You have notes, you have the textbook, you have the library. Hell, you could even schedule an appointment with the professor ahead of time to say you're having difficulties and could he offer advice. Most good professors don't want people to fail and are glad to suggest extra time focusing on Chapters 11 and 12.

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RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 7:00:11 AM

windchymes

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You're not in high school anymore, little buckaroo!

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Post #: 6

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 7:10:23 AM

Mercnbeth

Posts: 11766
Status: offline

SMC.
Does the class grade on a curve?

quote:

Does that scenario sound familiar and fair to you?

Familiar? Yup, I'm tested and asked to do many seemingly impossible tasks by clients, governmental regulatory agencies, investors, lenders, and employees; usually not at my convenient time, usually not in consideration of my schedule or any other time consuming project.

I'd say its very fair - unless you plan on working for the government, you are getting a fair representation of the world you'll be expected to function in after out of the protective bubble represented by your class.

(in reply to SugarMyChurro)

Post #: 7

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 7:22:26 AM

airborne92

Posts: 62
Joined: 1/11/2004
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Most people that go to college are at least 18 years old and considered an adult. Having taught both math and physics at the college level, I want to point out some facts that were neglected in the original post, intentionally or unintentionally foesn'y matter.

1. Every full time instructor, and sometimes adjunct instructors depending on the school, is required to have office hours. If a student wants additional help from the instructor it is up to them to see the instructor.

2. Are students so lazy today that they cannot form study groups, use the library, read their book, or study their own class notes?

3. Tests are meant to evaluate the student's knowledge and thinking abilities based on the material covered in class. Tests are not meant to see if the student can regurgitate what was said in class. If they cannot apply the knowledge that has been imparted to them, then they haven't really learned anything.

4. As adults, they are expected to deal with having to answer questions that are not straight out of the book. That is how the real world is, and it is something they need to get used to.

When I was teaching I would tell my students that I would help any of them succeed if they starting having trouble as long as they were willing to put forth the required effort. If they came to me for extra help, I would tell them I will give enough rope, so to speak, to either get themselves out of the hole they were in or hang themselves with. I had very few people come to me for extra help, but those that did always ended up passing my courses. I pushed them even harder during the extra help sessions than I did in class. Regardless, I was well liked because I was always willing to help any student that asked for help. If I couldn't answer their questions, I would get them in touch with someone who could. When they moved on to the next level of math, I wouold always help them pick an instructor I thought was best for them and their style of learning.

< Message edited by airborne92 -- 3/5/2008 7:27:04 AM >

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Post #: 8

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 7:32:32 AM

Kana

Posts: 6676
Joined: 10/24/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro

I know several people at university right now. Most are in the middle of midterms exams, or just wrapping up. So here is my scenario:

-----

A chemistry midterm exam is given. The exam is 37 questions and 6 pages long. Each question has multiple parts and some are even essay style, short answer questions. There are some multiple choice questions, but almost all questions require at least some math and conversions. The math and conversions on the exam are often more difficult and seem to synthesize knowledge imparted during the lecture period leading to the exam - but the practice work during lectures and homework is never as hard as what is on the exam. The official time for the midterm is a single 50 minute class session, but the teacher allows students to arrive 30 minutes earlier and to stay 30 minutes later if they need to.

The chemistry class normally meets for three 50 minute sessions per week. The class is taught and the exam is given by a graduate student. This graduate student is known to take time away from class with substitute teachers filling in as he is also undergoing various evaluation processes toward a higher degree.

-----

It's been some time since I have been in school. Does that scenario sound familiar and fair to you? What might you do going forward? Presume that getting high marks is extremely important to you.

I am not sure that I really see the question here but here is my response from a summa cum laude grad and a student in a post grad program.
What might I do going forward if grades were important to me( and they were and are). I would sack up, hit the books and study my ass off. No bitching, no whining, life's not fair, oh well.
It sounds to me like the Prof is giving lots of extra time and trying to help give the students a chance to succeed. As for synthesizing lectures and readings, thats what exams are intended to do, demonstrate learned knowledge.

I had a statistics teacher whose exams were notorious, she did statistical curves ( go figure) and some years a 58 was worth a C her exams were so tough.
I had a law class were students routinely cried all the way into school.C`est la vie.

As for grad students teaching, that happens all the time at major schools. My school didn't do it, but its common even at schools such as Johns Hopkins.

I will say this. I am not the brightest guy, but I am really good at the politics of school.At the beginning of the semseter I always aimed at teachers I know and had an existing relationship with. If not I always checked rateyourproffesor to see what their feedback was. If they looked really tough and I could find a way to dance around that teacher in that class I would.If I had to take a tough prof in a tough class, I tried to set it up so that I did it in a semester where the rest of my classes were easy.

And I never ever take classes from teachers who don't give A's. Fuck that nonsense.
I had a teacher once say that on day one, the second I heard it,I grabbed my books, stood up and split but before I did I let him have it.
Told him he could take his A's and his ego and shove them up his ass, that I wasn't going to bust my ass all semester long just to get a B so he could appease his little ego and stand in front of a bunch of kids acting all tough for some perverse pleasure of his own. That I had worked to hard and been through to much and paid to much money for school to have some little man ruin my future just so he could have a power trip.
Fuck that.

Then I left. He looked like he had been hit by a bus.And the class burst into applause as I walked through the door.

< Message edited by Kana -- 3/5/2008 7:34:21 AM >

(in reply to SugarMyChurro)

Post #: 9

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 7:36:39 AM

kittinSol

Posts: 16926
Status: offline

Sugar, I don't understand the question. Maybe I should take another class

.

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Post #: 10

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 7:55:28 AM

thompsonx

Posts: 23322
Joined: 10/1/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: SugarMyChurro

I know several people at university right now. Most are in the middle of midterms exams, or just wrapping up. So here is my scenario:

-----

A chemistry midterm exam is given. The exam is 37 questions and 6 pages long. Each question has multiple parts and some are even essay style, short answer questions. There are some multiple choice questions, but almost all questions require at least some math and conversions. The math and conversions on the exam are often more difficult and seem to synthesize knowledge imparted during the lecture period leading to the exam - but the practice work during lectures and homework is never as hard as what is on the exam. The official time for the midterm is a single 50 minute class session, but the teacher allows students to arrive 30 minutes earlier and to stay 30 minutes later if they need to.

The chemistry class normally meets for three 50 minute sessions per week. The class is taught and the exam is given by a graduate student. This graduate student is known to take time away from class with substitute teachers filling in as he is also undergoing various evaluation processes toward a higher degree.

-----

It's been some time since I have been in school. Does that scenario sound familiar and fair to you? What might you do going forward? Presume that getting high marks is extremely important to you.

Yeah that is pretty much how I remember it.
thompson

(in reply to SugarMyChurro)

Post #: 11

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 8:44:57 AM

Marc2b

Posts: 6660
Joined: 8/7/2006
Status: offline

Smoke a joint - that'll make the exam time seem longer.

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Post #: 12

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 8:56:36 AM

subtee

Posts: 5133
Joined: 7/26/2007
Status: offline

FR~

[Kana I'm a sum cum louder too, ~pound it~]

quote:

The chemistry class normally meets for three 50 minute sessions per week. The class is taught and the exam is given by a graduate student. This graduate student is known to take time away from class with substitute teachers filling in as he is also undergoing various evaluation processes toward a higher degree.

The above is the only part that has given me pause; if there are materials and information that are intended to be delivered or taught by the GS and are not, or are not thoroughly taught but then are covered on the exams, that would seem to me to be problematic. I'd have a problem with that. Then again, I was an absolute freak about my grades.

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Post #: 13

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 12:37:34 PM

ownedgirlie

Posts: 9184
Joined: 2/5/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: caitlyn

There is only one play. Class, and the professor teaching it are a bonus. A student must plan on learning the material on their own.

I absolutely agree with this.

I've been in a similar boat, with a Statistics class. Now, taking Statistics as a dyslexic while also working 65+ hours a week during budget season at work (It was my job to put together 7 budgets that all rolled up into an $8 million IT budget, which showed a 5% cut from the previous year, even though system maintenance contracts all went up 3%, and to try not to cut any headcount), while trying to deal with other huge issues pertaining to my divorce and my Dad's death....was not fun.

So I got myself a tutor. Fortunately for me, a woman I worked with was a business grad (and a 4.0 one at that) from Notre Dame, who had a crazy love for mathematics and statistics. Prior to mid terms and finals, we stayed at the office together until about 11PM so I could understand all the formulas and concepts I needed to learn.

Our professor's teaching method was to refer us to her website and tell us "Study hard!"

I compared notes with other students - we emailed each other and called each other and met together a couple of times.

And on more than one occasion, I left work early on exam day, and worked nights and/or weekends to catch up.

I also asked my professor if she could offer any tips for a dyslexic, as upon quiz review I would notice that most of my errors were not due to lack of knowing concepts and formulas, but from transposing numbers while working out the problems, due to the time crunch. Her advice was extremely helpful.

I realized that a higher education is not necessarily about learning the specific information each class is teaching, but receiving expanded knowledge, and learning how to research, plan, work with others, learning where to find appropriate resources, and figure things out when things seem impossible. There is always away. If anyone had invested in the coffee industry during that semester, they may have realized a profit.

I think the biggest challenge I had during that semester was from everyone telling me I should quit. Despite everything, I got a high B in class. It was the only non-A I had received to date, but it was the grade I was most proud of, go figure.

< Message edited by ownedgirlie -- 3/5/2008 12:40:02 PM >

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Post #: 14

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 12:59:54 PM

PlayfulOne

Posts: 1047
Status: offline

Just ask Moses for some of his stash.

K

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Post #: 15

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 1:09:55 PM

Archer

Posts: 3207
Joined: 3/11/2005
Status: offline

OK

1. Test problems being a little harder than those used in class to learn how to work the problems.
That's normal and fair.
2. Teaching Fellows with schedueling conflicts (not exactly great but pretty much normal as I recall)

3. 30 minutes before and after So basicly can be a 2 hour testing time. (Bet I will be there early late or both depending on my other class loads)

What am I going to do to ensure a good score?
1. Office Hours ask for a few sets of problems that are as tough as the ones on the comming exam.
2. Make sure I can do the easy problems almost in my sleep
3. Double check the math after answering the test Q's
4. Find the top 3 grades in the class and throw a study party with them. I'll buy the Pizza. (Barley Pop after session).

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Post #: 16

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 1:25:58 PM

airborne92

Posts: 62
Joined: 1/11/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Archer

OK

1. Test problems being a little harder than those used in class to learn how to work the problems.
That's normal and fair.
2. Teaching Fellows with schedueling conflicts (not exactly great but pretty much normal as I recall)

3. 30 minutes before and after So basicly can be a 2 hour testing time. (Bet I will be there early late or both depending on my other class loads)

What am I going to do to ensure a good score?
1. Office Hours ask for a few sets of problems that are as tough as the ones on the comming exam.
2. Make sure I can do the easy problems almost in my sleep
3. Double check the math after answering the test Q's
4. Find the top 3 grades in the class and throw a study party with them. I'll buy the Pizza. (Barley Pop after session).

The kind of student I always enjoyed having in a class. One that takes responsibility for his own grade, regardless of what the grade ends up being.

(in reply to Archer)

Post #: 17

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 1:33:09 PM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

The teaching style- personality -method can trigger easier learning. a few course I had were that way. Some subjects build upon the prior lesson; and to catch up is impossible.

now for the advice: measured in real knowledge- Ild learn the subject matter as -the complicated world we live in- will get more complicated.

this may not be what the employer looks for-

I made the mistake of learning what I wanted and not real job skills. Bad, as no jobs. good as in those skills carry over.

(in reply to airborne92)

Post #: 18

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 1:48:17 PM

slaveboyforyou

Posts: 3607
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
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I never had that tough of a time. I just showed up to class, took notes, asked questions, did my work, and participated. I rarely studied. If I took a class that was obviously going to be a bitch; I would just drop it within the first few weeks. I made a point to stop in to all my professor's office at least once at the beginning of the semester to chit chat. Even if I thought the class was dreadful, I would feign interest.

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Post #: 19

RE: University Students: Test Question - 3/5/2008 2:08:06 PM

SageFemmexx

Posts: 240
Joined: 1/2/2007
Status: offline

Sorry but it does sound about right. Alot of college is about toughing it out and how much you are willing to put up with for the degree. I spent five semesters in various forms of algebra as I climbed higher and higher to college level. I detested the drudgery but survived it. When you are an adult returning to school you often pay for your lack of math skills in remedial classes. I believe it is a weeding out method.

I learned to endure nose to the grindstone classes and the occasional poor professor, those classes actually taught me more about myself than the subject matter. And remember you can survive a semester of them.

Hang in there and remember you must know the basics in order to pass a class--make sure your fundamentals are good. Most profs will put enough of them on a test to at least give you a run at passing it--so I would bs my way through essay questions, hit the multiple choice with logical answers and make sure I attempted as many of the harder ones as I could so you could get points for trying.

I am a doctorial student with a 4.0 GPA.

Blessings and Be Well
Sage***

(in reply to slaveboyforyou)

Post #: 20

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