NationsUniversity graduate level exams

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by RoscoeB, May 6, 2017.

Loading...
  1. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    A friend is working on a master's degree at NationsUniversity. His first two exams consisted of multiple choice questions and a very brief essay. He finished both exams in less than 30 min.

    Is this typical with this school? I thought it would be more rigorous. I have recommended this school to a number of people. Anyone familiar with the exams?

    Roscoe
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I have no experience with Nations and so no first hand knowledge of their practices or standards. However, I believe they use a competency based model and their methods for assessing knowledge and knowledge acquisition is not going to closely resemble a traditional "sit down and take a test" model that many people are accustomed to using.
     
  3. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    I don't think rigor becomes an issue just because he finished quickly. Most of the rigor of any class comes in the preparation that leads up to an exam.

    If one finishes quickly it doesn't mean they scored well. If a person does score well after finishing quickly, it can simply mean they had a strong grasp on the material.

    It really is a "YMMV" situation.
     
  4. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Agreed. But I also thought the questions were easy.

    Roscoe
     
  5. rwest

    rwest New Member

    I was curious, how long does it typically take to get through one of their courses? I'm considering applying. My undergrad degree doesn't confer until end of September. They said I can take up to 3 courses before I get officially accepted. I can't proceed past that third course until they have the transcripts in hand. So, I'm trying to decide when I should enroll. I don't want to fly through three classes and be sitting around for a month or more waiting until end of September.
     
  6. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    Unless they changed their format, I heard their program requires an excessive amount of reading and writing. If they changed to a competency-based-like system, then I might be interested in them again.
     
  7. Helpful2013

    Helpful2013 Active Member

    Regardless of perceived difficulty of the questions, how appropriate do you think a multiple-choice exam is for measuring competency at this level of education?

     
  8. sanantone

    sanantone Well-Known Member

    I don't think I had any multiple choice exams for my masters or PhD program.
     
  9. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member


    That's not at all the description of the exam I took over a year ago. It was all essay styled. Also, how did you get to see the exam to judge its difficulty level? As a matter of fact he should never hold the exam before or after the text, it has to be done by an approved proctor. So I have no idea what your friend took, but it was not a Nations U exam.

    http://www.nationsu.edu/Certified_Proctor/Proctor_Policy/
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 6, 2017
  10. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

  11. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    Depends on what it takes to prepare. From what I've seen there, it takes a lot of reading and writing especially if one prepares in that order and then takes the exam. My second thought to that would center on the length of time such an approach has been used by schools like Heriot-Watt University, a school whose exams have garnered the reputation of being tough and highly inclusive of critical course material. Of course, this doesn't mean Nations U is the same, but in general there is credence to the idea that such an approach isn't entirely dismissable. Besides, with the amount of reading and writing needed for Nations' courses, multiple choice exams appear to only be part of the equation.
     
  12. Steve Levicoff

    Steve Levicoff Well-Known Member

    Thinking back to my mater's and doctorate (neither of which were at Nations, and both of which are RA) . . .

    Um, what's an exam? :slaphappy:
     
  13. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Hi Steve,

    Glad to see you're still posting here.

    Roscoe
     
  14. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Thanks, Kizmet.

    Good point.

    Roscoe
     
  15. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Exactly what I've heard, Sanantone.

    Roscoe
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 7, 2017
  16. BrandeX

    BrandeX New Member

    I've done Nations a bit many years ago at undergrad level. It sounds like you are describing the unit quizzes, not the proctored final exams.
     
  17. RoscoeB

    RoscoeB Senior Member

    Thank you, Brande.

    Roscoe
     
  18. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I know very little about their system. I only mentioned "competency-based" because I read this

    "Competency-Based Learning
    The US Dept of Education at www.ed.gov defines Competency-Based Education in the following way: Transitioning away from seat time, in favor of a structure that creates flexibility, allows students to progress as they demonstrate mastery of academic content, regardless of time, place, or pace of learning. Competency-based strategies provide flexibility in the way that credit can be earned or awarded, and provide students with personalized learning opportunities. This type of learning leads to better student engagement because the content is relevant to each student and tailored to their unique needs. It also leads to better student outcomes because the pace of learning is customized to each student."

    Our Programs | NationsUniversity
     

Share This Page