I am taking A&P I this fall. We are half way through the term and I am doing well but have been studying like crazy to get my A's. On the last test, someone from one A&P class stole a test and gave it to their friend in another A&P class (same teacher, same test). The teacher found out about it and now is punishing the entire class by giving us tests that are all fill-in-the-blank and essay questions for the rest of the term. I am so upset with all this that I can't even concentrate in class anymore. I'm thinking about dropping the class all together because I just don't think I can maintain my average with these new tests.
I need your honest opinions. Am I being a big baby about this or is this teacher really being unfair? How are your A&P tests? Are they multiple choice or fill in the blank and essay?
Any advice?
BTW, I have already talked to her personally and told her I had nothing to do with (and no knowledge about) the stolen test and she's not budging.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I generally agree with you on this, however, for me sometimes I just draw a complete blank and when I see the answer in multiple choice form the answer comes to me. I know that on our lab practicals I have known the answer on several cases but just couldn't remember the term for the life of me but if I had seen it I would have definitely known the right answer. KWIM?
The problems we face as nurses do not have A, B, C or D answers staring us in the face. RNs are problem solvers and thinkers that have to consider many different options to solve problems. This is called critical thinking and if you read some of the posts on the General Nursing Student Discussion Forum you will see that even seeing A, B, C or D answers doesn't guarantee that a person knows the right answer when they see it.
The problems we face as nurses do not have A, B, C or D answers staring us in the face. RNs are problem solvers and thinkers that have to consider many different options to solve problems. This is called critical thinking and if you read some of the posts on the General Nursing Student Discussion Forum you will see that even seeing A, B, C or D answers doesn't guarantee that a person knows the right answer when they see it.
Very very true. But the OP was talking about A&P and that is what I am taking right now and I have had many instances where once I saw the right answer as a choice I knew the answer, but it wasn't coming to me beforehand so if I had to answer by fill-in the blank I would have missed it.
But yes for critical thinking questions m/c doesn't help at all.
Very very true. But the OP was talking about A&P and that is what I am taking right now and I have had many instances where once I saw the right answer as a choice I knew the answer, but it wasn't coming to me beforehand so if I had to answer by fill-in the blank I would have missed it.
But yes for critical thinking questions m/c doesn't help at all.
Just think:
1. How limited are the fill in the blank? You have a memory problem beyond 200 items, and you are not thinking then.
2. Multiple choice can offer questions the student learns during the test, and afterwards. For example, a question that evolved from the assignments to date, giving a chance for maturation process (sinking in).
3. Multiple choice offers historical facts which emulate the NCLEX test format and shows what you learned twice: at the test and at the final.
Its the format, except for math and problem solving engineering tests, that can benefit the student best.
I hate my 50 question fillintheblank spelled correctly ( out of up to 600 possibilities) Practicals, but that's ok. Its just laundry lists we need to know. BUT if the instructor has a WELL THOUGHT OUT system, then that would be different. As far as I can see, fill in the blank is for laundry lists only. And essay are subjective, since the instructor can put any grade they want with a wide latitude of subjectivity. This sounds like a lazy teacher who doesn't want to evolve tests and make new ones. All she would have to do is put together another exam and blow away the cheaters relying on the stolen test (THAT SHE LET GET AWAY).
With financial aid restrictions, its tough and even I would stick it out figuring I would get in top tier what ever that range was (hopefully). But I personally think multiple choice is hard. By the time I take a few test preparation courses for net, tabe, and others, I will learn better. Its tough just going blind into an instructors class you have no idea of them, or didn't do your homework. Some things are more important than others, but GPA is pretty darn important and it requires a multifaceted approach: do everything possible and don't just study your brains out needlessly. You might miss the most important ideas!!
I agree with everyone who is saying that fill in the black and short answer questions are best. I hate when an entire test is multiple choice and for example, every question is two points, i get marked way down because if its a 100pt test, 2 points can add up to a lot!
Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
The problems we face as nurses do not have A, B, C or D answers staring us in the face. RNs are problem solvers and thinkers that have to consider many different options to solve problems. This is called critical thinking and if you read some of the posts on the General Nursing Student Discussion Forum you will see that even seeing A, B, C or D answers doesn't guarantee that a person knows the right answer when they see it.