Melanie Chernoff
LEAD INSTRUCTOR, LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDIES
We asked a few faculty around campus about their barrier to learning and what they do to improve accessibility.
Here’s what Mel had to say…
Years ago I learned from a student that the word “test” and “exam” caused such stress and anxiety that they could not focus on anything else if the knew a test was in their near future. With that in mind, I started calling tests “Celebrations of Learning.” This new term lightens the atmosphere of the classroom when discussing “Celebrations,” allows some humor in the classroom, but most importantly, puts the students at ease.
For the most part, my exams have been paper based using those old scantron sheets for multiple choice and a pen for short answer questions (much to the chagrin of the students…or so I thought). Last week one of my students had a broken arm and asked if he could have extra time for the exam. I managed to get the exam online in time for the class but because I had stated the exam would be paper based, I offered the class the option of taking the exam online (in the classroom) or by paper. I was surprised at how many students chose the paper exam. Maybe old school isn’t so old?!