Effective Strategies for Online Exam Preparation

Strategies for Online Exams Academic Strategies Program Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning

Workshop goals How to study for exams in your current environment How to prepare for online test environment

Activity: Challenges to studying for an taking exams online? Take a minute or two to note down your questions and concerns about online exams. If you d like, share one or two comments in the Zoom chat, keeping in mind that the chat is not anonymous.

Adjust your studying to your new circumstances Challenges Less stamina for long study sessions Different (and perhaps less than ideal) work environment Feeling disconnected from your instructor, TFs, peers

Good news! The best exam study practices are actually also the best practices for the online environment!

Approaches to studying for exams Shorter study session sessions are actually more effective Interleaved retrieval spreading out study sessions over time and alternating subjects is actually more effective for remembering material But doing shorter sessions over a longer period of time takes more advance planning

Approaches to studying for exams Quizzing either by oneself or with others is also more effective Find peers to study with also combats social isolation that may be dragging you down Create sample questions and try to answer them together over Google or Zoom Look at old exams/problem sets and work together to find solutions to difficult problems

Prepare for the online environment Have to do more to make sure that you are set up to take the exam through your computer or other device Requires more advanced planning Greater organization of your exam environment Communication with faculty about your particular exam needs and challenges

Preparation: Logistics Pay close attention to any messages your faculty/TFs send you about the exam: When will the exam be available? When will it no longer be available? Is there a strict time limit for the exam? What materials is it OK for you to access during the exam? Do you need to download LockDown Browser? (Some faculty require this to limit your app access while taking the exam.) You will likely not just be able to show up and take the exam!

Preparation: Communication Communicate with your family/roommates about what you need, especially if it is a timed exam. Let them know the day/time Try to secure a quiet space, if possible If you have an especially challenging environment, limited internet connection, etc., communicate with your faculty/TFs before the exam. Explain challenges clearly and dispassionately Suggest alternatives when necessary Ask your Residential College Dean for support, if necessary

During the Exam If the exam is administered through Canvas Quizzes: Multiple choice answers are automatically saved Short answer/essay questions are automatically saved if you click away from the text box. (You can keep adding to the answer) Be aware that your exam will be automatically submitted when time is up. Be prepared to upload pdfs of handwritten assignments if needed: http://help.canvas.yale.edu/m/62761/l/1217506-how- to-create-a-pdf-of-handwritten-assignments

After the Exam If you have had difficulties with the exam logistics, contact your faculty/TFs immediately to resolve them. If you have time, reflect on the experience to strategize for the next exam: What surprised you about the exam? What did you wish you could have done more effectively?

Questions? What questions do you have? What other kinds of resources would it be helpful for us to produce to address online learning?

Please take a brief survey about this workshop: QR Code URL https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtri cs.com/jfe/form/SV_0VfPtop QZjWEh13