Whomever said distance learning/exams were easy.....

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Julie1014, Jun 7, 2012.

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  1. Julie1014

    Julie1014 New Member

    :yikes:Oh my goodness! I just finished my first online exam for Survey of Art History 380. It was MUCH more difficult than I expected. It was 30 minutes and timed. I felt like someone was holding a gun to my head when the timer was running out, lol!:puke: It was 17 questions which included a few multiple choice, plus short essays and having to identify certain works of art by memory, having to tell the name, date, etc. by "filling in the blank." I felt there was not enough time, and I was racing to complete it. Someone would struggle if their typing skills weren't up to par. While I have enjoyed studying the past couple of days, the test was so much harder than I expected. I have a feeling this is going to be a long summer but I am still very excited about my new distance learning venture, though!:arms:
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Congratulations on your survival. It sounds like you have found a good program. There are other programs around that are quite easy and I worry about that.

    Unfortunately, those who struggle with typing will be disadvantaged in a situation like yours. One of the things I teach at my school is typing, along with several other subjects. I would highly recommend that you buy a copy of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and work at it for 20 minutes or so a day. You would be amazed at the progress you could make in just a couple of months. I use it with my Jr. high students and I see fairly rapid improvement.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2012
  3. Julie1014

    Julie1014 New Member

    SurfDoctor, thanks again for the helpful information. If anyone is looking for a challenging class, this would be it! Luckily, my typing skills aren't too bad, but I am going to check out the book you recommended.:smile:
     
  4. Julie1014

    Julie1014 New Member

    I have a feeling, given the format of the first exam, that I picked one of the harder classes to choose as my first class, lol! However, I am SO excited to begin my online learning. I took copious notes, reviewed my textbook several times, highlighted, etc. I just have a feeling this is going to be a hard class. However, it is AMAZING the amount of information I have learned in the past couple of days. I haven't challenged myself in a long time. And, it's time. :)
     
  5. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    If your typing skills are not slowing you down, you probably don't need it and I'm glad to hear that. By the way, it is a software package, not a book.
     
  6. Paidagogos

    Paidagogos Member

    I feel your pain Julie. I am currently taking a graduate railroad history course that has chosen to make extensive use of online quizzes, which are timed (~5-10 minutes). I have to pay close attention to do well. The quizzes are challenging, even though they are just a few questions. With them being so short, missing one or two can really bring your grade down. This course is going to be a challenge for me. I'd rather just write papers and discuss personally!:biggrin:
     
  7. lawrenceq

    lawrenceq Member

    I registered for that class before I decided to transfer. I was told that class was tough. Are you taking it with Holmes?
     
  8. Julie1014

    Julie1014 New Member

    Yes, it's Holmes.
     
  9. linbored

    linbored Member

    Are you given a study guide? Last year when I had short timed quizzes and exams, doing the entire study guide, not just reviewing it, but actually writing out actual answers and questions to the essays really helped be be prepared for the real thing.
     
  10. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    You know, for nearly 20 years I thought there was a real Mavis Beacon -- and that was her picture on the software box. I wasn't really heartbroken when I found out "Mavis Beacon" was a made-up name and that nice-looking lady on the box was a model, not a typing teacher. But I was...you know...mildly disillusioned and amazed at my own credulity, I guess.

    Johann
     
  11. Julie1014

    Julie1014 New Member

    No study guide for the first exam, but we were just provided with a link that offers multiple choice/short essay questions to use as a study "tool" for the rest of the exams. Apparently it is from the publisher of the book. Hopefully this will help. Thank you so much for the suggestion!
     
  12. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    WHAT? There is no Mavis Beacon???!!! LOL. Yea, it seems rather strange that they would give a piece of software a human name.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 7, 2012
  13. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    For some reason, everybody automatically assumes that Mavis Beacon is a real person. In 1998, the New York Times actually ran a story on this issue.

    That was 14 years ago. But nothing has changed. In fact, there are people out there who will claim that they personally heard Mavis Beacon speak at a conference, or saw her win a typing contest.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 8, 2012
  14. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    That's not all! I'm sure that our much-respected Dr. John Bear will chuckle at this:

    For around 30 years, I thought (from the name alone) that Dr. Bear was probably a Native American. Back then, he published guides through his "Ten Speed Press," so I occasionally formed a mental image of this colourful, enterprising degree-guy, enjoying a bicycle ride somewhere on a Reservation.

    It wasn't until around 2006 that I learned different - and no disappointment at all. He's just as colourful, enterprising and knowledgeable as before - although not a Native American.

    Johann
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 8, 2012
  15. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Actually, I heard that John Bear is not a real person but just a fictitious entity used for advertising Degree Info. :shhh:
     
  16. edwardlynch

    edwardlynch New Member

    congratulations! Job well done!
     
  17. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    No, John Bear is real. The fictional one is Steve Levicoff, who was originally developed as a character in a Tom Robbins novel.
     
  18. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!


    Dr. John Bear is real, URL: John Bear
     
  19. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Don't you recognize a joke when you see one?
     
  20. Julie1014

    Julie1014 New Member

    SurfDoctor, they must not have had their coffee yet!:slap:
     

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