Practice, practice, practice

Back when I first started this teaching gig, we would tell the students that they should take the practice tests. Most of the students wouldn't bother and come the first exam, they'd spontaneously and spectacularly combust during the test and then blame us for their inability to make the grade.

It was enough to drive even the most left-brained, geek amongst us to the contemplation of his/her own navel. "If a professor's lips move while in the classroom and no student is listening, does the professor really make a sound?"

We now do things a little bit differently. We have scheduled class time for practice runs of the hands-on test materials. Last class, I told my students that they were going to be taking the practice test and that this should help to prepare them for the next class when they will be taking the actual graded exam. I explained that the testing simulation software is very particular. To demonstrate the highly finicky nature of the software we are using, I gave the following example:

If the test asks you to type

Local Junior College.

and you type

Local Junior college.

or

Local Junior College

the software will mark you as incorrect.

Yes, the software is that fussy. I waxed eloquent on the need for students to read the instructions completely and to follow them carefully. I also made certain that I told my students several times during class to take the practice test again for homework. You see, on the practice test, we give them ten tries to get each task correct and, during the practice test, they can ask me for assistance. They are, obviously, on their own during the graded exam.

I received the following very excited email this week...

To: professor trek
From: Student Taking Practice Test
========================================
prof trek,

I am having a problem with the practice test!!

When I scroll to the top of the document and insert two additional paragraphs then go back up to the top and type "W" as to start Wednesday, it keeps saying that I'm doing something wrong.

Can you please help me! So I can pass the exam!!

Thank you,
Student Taking Practice Test

# # #

Well, isn't that nice? STPT is actually taking the practice test and is simultaneously engaged in phoentic punctuation. This question trips up a lot of students who engage in inattentive instruction reading...

# # #

To: STPT
From: prof trek
========================================
It does not ask you to go back up to the top of the document. Just start typing where the cursor is already located.

# # #

Wish us luck today.