[Author's note: This entry is a part of the "Blog of the Week" series that my colleagues and I are writing. This week, we focus on how we are preparing for midterm examinations.]
Ah, yes, the dreaded midterm examinations. Since this is the seventh week of courses here at Arizona State University, they're due up. The interesting thing with taking 300- and 400-level courses (read: junior & senior) is that there aren't that many examinations. I'm taking four actual classes (the fifth is an independent study course), two of which are at the 200-level (sophomore) and the other two in the 400-level. For instance, I'm in STP226, or Elements of Statistics. This morning, I had my second midterm examination for that course. Since I like mathematics (I know, it's my vice), and also since I've had exposure to this in high school, there wasn't a lot of preparation. Generally, I consult briefly (read: 20-30 minutes total) the notes of the material that is eligible to be on the exam, try some practice problems, and then move on.
But one course that I'm not looking forward to the midterm is my other 200-level course, ECN211 (Macroeconomic Principles). Since I have not had previous exposure to the material, it's considerably more time-consuming and more challenging. What I have done in situations like this (to some degree of success) is merge the notes that I have taken in class with what the textbook says. By doing this, you reinforce what you have learned in class with what the book says. This is because instructors rarely just teach from the book. Let me reiterate this: INSTRUCTORS RARELY JUST TEACH FROM THE BOOK. They supplement the book with their take. (This is also why reading the book before class is helpful.)
The exam for the latter is Monday the 13th (is this bad luck?) but I should be ready for it.
Cheers-
Edward Jensen
No comments:
Post a Comment