race against time
My time - by plakboek It has always been a struggle to motivate my students to even just complete a practice examination. Few will do these under examination conditions away from the classroom, and a some don't even bother turning up to the last few classes. I will admit to stalking outside the examination room with a lingering threat to glare at anybody tho attempts to leave early.
It tears my heart out to see them mechanically slog thorough an examination from start to finish, with no planning, wasting too much time on difficult questions or dribble out their knowledge with brief answers. Whilst teaching examination skills is important, this can be as engaging as relearning to tie your shoelaces or basic breathing. I am a bit feral at this point, jumping on desks, rap dancing, pulling markers from my socks, pulling treats from behind ears and issuing "survivor" certificates. I learned from Keith the value of keeping it fun.
Poor English skills and unfamiliar words will often undermine their understanding and confidence. Words like "Robust" are interpreted as something to do with Robots. Glossaries don't help, using the words in context do help. I learned from Donald the value of just reading the newspaper, asking good questions and using the "big" words in context and mandating a Moodle forum reply to stimulate HOT (Higher Order Thinking) replies.
It helps for me to trim the practice examinations in half so that I can run them over a period. After a flying marking session, I will sit down asap for an equivalent period. Students seem to only be able to learn 3 new things at each session so I find that this helps avoiding overloading their memory. I learned this from my own rotten memory.
Not all students have an supportive family network or even a computer at home. One once complained that his battery had run flat. I was gobsmacked to find out that he was living in a old car and reading under a recharged battery. Many have no stories so I spin yarns about those who struggled and won. They are delighted by the "Mr Mark" who hands out the rose and dog breakfast awards for exam questions and sigh relief at the nice people at the VCAA who just want to see them do their best. Much is true, some I synthesise from my own experiences.
I avoid playing the numbers game of marks, scores and averages by emphasising that we are really only racing against our personal best. When I visit the doctor, he usually snaps on the rubber gloves and prods a bit before telling me that I am still healthy enough with room for improvement. I am average but I think the average has moved (pokes at expanding stomach).
Anyway, I wish all my students the very best with their examination results. Whilst you race ahead and fill your lives with academic clutter and personal baggage, remember to revisit the good memories and hang onto your dreams.