Aspen University Proctored Exams

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by rbel13, Aug 4, 2010.

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  1. NMTTD

    NMTTD Active Member

    I think the test really sets the serious students from the ones who think DL = fast and easy. So many people think if you go online school, you can sit around all day eating bon bons and spend maybe 20 minutes a day doing the token amount of work and then BAM!!! You get a degree. Same misconception about stay at home moms. But dont get me started on that one. I could go on all night about that crap.
     
  2. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    Well New Charter University in CA have proctored exam for every final of their classes.
    The quality is very high.
    All instructors / professors are RA grads and the curriculum any RA can be prod off.
    I think in some cases it may be above some RA schools in quality.

    Based on my opinion. Not an expert.
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    One of the biggest surprises for new DL students is that while DL is more convenient, it's most definitely not easier, especially for people who are used to the traditional butt-in-seat classroom course format.
     
  4. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Unfortunately, they also have one of the worst sounding names in higher education.

    Also, I'm always puzzled when an NA school requires that all their faculty have RA degrees....what is that saying about the quality & utility of their own degrees?

    "Graduate from our school, and we won't even consider hiring you"!!
     
  5. Lerner

    Lerner Well-Known Member

    I totally agree with you here. I think AJU was a better name, At least a name of a president if US etc.

    I think their message is that DETC degrees are not for training teachers, they are more for training practice and applied in nature.
    If one wants to use the degree for teaching then they most likely should go for RA degree.

    The advantage is that the NA universities smaller and maybe provide better service to students. I had very positive service with one one such school.
    In many great RA universities people feel like they are a number, I'm not sure how to explain this any other way.
    For Adult learner who is already has a career etc it may work.

    Its better to have a fully universally acceptable degree, RA degrees have less obstacles then NA Degrees.
    APU dropped their NA, wander if they will continue accepting NA transfer credit?
    There are people who benefited from their NA degrees and as little by #'s still for some its an option.

    DL became easier with all the open course were offered on line.
    I watched videos on Yahoo from MIT, Stanford etc. Listening to a lecture wile on the treadmill :)
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 15, 2012
  6. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    So true. I had a friend who told me he was going to go after a quick online B.S. degree because it was easy. To this day, no degree. That was about seven years ago. Not as easy as he thought.

    Abner
     
  7. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    I found butt/nalgas in the seat classes to be easier. Why? You usually get credit for just showing up, and you had ample opportunities to do extra credit even if you messed up. I took nalgas in the seat classes for ten year. DL is more challenging in my opinion.

    Abner :smile:
     
  8. LearningAddict

    LearningAddict Well-Known Member

    From what I can gather, most DETC schools if not all require proctored exams. So my guess is that this has been a DETC rule for some time. It bothers me that most RA online programs don't have such a requirement, but I also realize that because most RA online programs follow a weekly format without self-paced study, it would make it hard to have students schedule their exams (especially finals) and have everything situated for final grading of courses.
     
  9. ebbwvale

    ebbwvale Member

    I can confirm that Aspen University requires a three essay examination in a four hour sitting. The exam is proctored and the first hour is for the student to research the answers from the asssigned textbooks. It may be written but word processing is preferred. There is a midterm and final for the Master's Degree.

    I have two Masters Degrees from Australian Universities (RA equivalent) and I have been published internationally in peer reviewed journals in my field. I am doing an Aspen Masters in a new field because it suits my circumstances in terms of outcomes and budget. I can say that the coursework is comparable to my other Masters to say the least. In some subjects, I think it exceeds in terms of content. The marking is somewhat more generous than here, although I understand from this board that the US marking is more generous. I don't consider that to be necessarily undesirable as, in this country, some marking is ridiculously low, depending upon the lecturer. Marking, as in all cases, may differ with the lecturer and the his/her philosophical approach to education and perhaps ego. I know one PhD student here who was berated because he missed a full stop in research proposal and told to resubmit it because it was unacceptable. This is an absurd approach and was more about showing who had the power and who did not. It was certainly not about education or the worthiness of his research proposal.

    I have found the Masters Program I am doing at Aspen is meeting academic standards that are comparable to other postgraduate offerings I have experienced. Others may have different experiences, but that is probably the case with every university on the planet.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 15, 2012
  10. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    If I recall correctly, the DETC-accredited Penn Foster does not require proctored examinations.
     
  11. sideman

    sideman Well Known Member

    Penn Foster does require proctored examinations. I'm currently in the 2nd semester of their CJ program and all my finals have been proctored.
     
  12. Petedude

    Petedude New Member

    I usually hear good things about their MBA. Only program I've heard bad things about is the Aspen MSIT.
     
  13. Meep129

    Meep129 New Member

    I know this is a HUGE necro post seven years in the making but I thought I'd be able to help those who were in my position (before I enrolled in Aspen) as this is still the first page that pops up when you ask good: What are Aspen University proctored exams like for Business Administration
    I don't want to give away to much as I'm not here to help anyone cheat, just what to expect. I took my proctored exam earlier this year (2019) so all this information should be fairly relevant.
    Standard stuff, go find a community college near you or they give you a list of people who can proctor for you (priest, army leader, anyone not friend/family). I chose the former.
    Proctored exams are taken about every six to twelve classes (depending on your completion level I think) which sucks in the regard of you're going to be hauling ALOT of books to your appointment. More on that in a second.
    When I was there I was sat in a private testing room and allowed ONLY to bring in my books. DO NOT SELL ASPEN TEXT BOOKS UNTIL YOU'VE COMPLETED THE EXAM. These proctored exams are ENTIRELY open book. HOWEVER they are NOT "open internet" which is completely acceptable and if anything, great. I suggest renting a big box and a dolly for the day...
    You're given a sheet of about 30 questions, you must complete THREE across all your topics. Didn't do well in finance? Chose a question from marketing. These are fairly short prompts (About a paragraph at most). These questions can be answered ENTIRELY out of your text book. You cannot use internet and frankly you don't have to. I'm not going to reveal the contents of the questions but I will help you and say: Pay attention to your discussion questions and home work when you were taking the classes.
    You're given about four hours to do so. While there is no length limit, they suggest (on the paper provided to you) that most essays pass that were written between 1,200 and 1,600 words or roughly three to five pages. APA is the name of the game here.
    The questions are not... super complex if anything I think they are for one reason only (and my academic advisor told me the same): These tests are for nothing more than to make sure YOU did not pay someone to take classes for you.
    To which I agree. I believe if you took the courses honestly and applied yourself, these four hour session will be a breeze. I did very well and frankly I'm not to smart ;)

    Again sorry for the necro but I hope I could shed some light for other eager to know students like me!
     
  14. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Thanks for the post. It's always good to have some inside info on the mechanics of the operation. It's the sort of info that could lead to someone choosing one program over another.
     
  15. Kasi

    Kasi New Member

    Anyone taking or completed Aspen University's DNP program? Was the proctored exam an actual essay you're required to write? How many pages/words?

    Thanks!
     
  16. Meep129

    Meep129 New Member

    Necro post 2.0 and almost a year later. Anyway, here we are, I just finished my BSBA from Aspen and couldn't be happier! The reason for the necro instead of just letting it go is because the final proctored exam is a little different.

    In my above post, it's all about multiple choice essays with open book. This final proctored exam is 60 questions, multiple choice and open book. Now this may be different considering COVID and this may not be the case in the future but from what I can tell, this is probably their standard go to for the final.

    Follow the Aspen instructions, you'll download something called Proctor Track and you'll need a webcam, this is all at home. There's a short verification process you'll go through including showing your face and ID and both your screen and you will be monitored for the duration. My biggest gripe with this quiz was what it encompassed, which was EVERYTHING. I started my program in mid-2018 and took the exam last week (Sept. 2020) and BELIEVE ME when I say there are questions they ask from waaaaaaaaay back that I just don't remember. Problem was, I sold a few of my books so some questions I was left in the dark but after some head scratching and skimming other books, I figured it out... I think. The questions aren't hard, 2-5 sentences, four options to choose from and again, open book. Oddly enough, Aspen says you can use e-books that you have purchased, Proctor Track says you cannot... I would contact your advisor about it. You need a 70% to pass and get two attempts. If you fail both attempts, you have to take the exam again only the second (and possibly third or fourth attempts depending how many times they let you retake it) aren't covered by tuition or anything, so you'll be out $100.

    It's kinda pointless to suggest what to study because honestly, I had 15 books on my table after taking around 20 classes and you're not going to have time to read all your books before the exam since you have 30 days to take it once you're placed. At least it's open book but even then I had some trouble but honestly I test very poorly when it comes to multiple choice. My essay grades were stellar, this quiz, not so much. Overall though, if you took the classes and have a modicum of intelligence or study skills, you'll be fine.

    Sorry again but I think it's useful information since I can't sing Aspen University's praises enough. Is it Yale? No. Will it provide a thorough, comprehensive and relevant education for pennies on the dollar that can be taken at your leisure AND you don't contribute to the US scam that are overpriced state universities? Absolutely. 11/10, if I had to start school all over again, I'd go (digitally) to Aspen in a heartbeat. Good luck!
     

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