Open-Book Exam: Logistics, Strategy, and Preparation Notes

Exam logistics and timing

• Three exams in total; format is multiple choice; taken at your own discretion within a defined window; open book and open notes.
• You need to be self-motivated due to asynchronous, take-at-home format.
• Exam window specifics:
  • Opens: Wednesday at $8:00\ \mathrm{AM}$ (local time)
  • Closes: Friday at $11:59\ \mathrm{PM}$
  • Once you start, the clock runs continuously and you must complete in one sitting.
• Exam duration:
  • Official duration: $90\ \mathrm{minutes}$
  • Rationale: this is fifteen minutes longer than in-person exams to accommodate internet issues.
• Accommodations:
  • If you have an approved accommodation from the disability services, you should receive the enhanced time specified in your accommodation letter.
• Where to find exams:
  • On Blackboard → main page → exams (located at the bottom of the page under the module area with items like “study guide”).
  • If you’re logged in on a generic view, you may not see the exams yet; the instructor view will show them.
• Timing nuance mentioned by the instructor:
  • The window is described as opening on the 17th at 8:00 CDT and effectively closing around 12:01 on the due date due to system constraints, but the stated due date remains binding.
  • The exam will appear “on your Blackboard day-to-day tomorrow” and can be taken at any point within the opening window.
• Thursday in-person attendance:
  • There is no requirement to come to class on Thursday; treat that day as an exam-taking study day or time to discuss filmmaking with the instructor.
• Exam format specifics:
  • Total questions: $40$ multiple-choice questions (the transcript also mentions a stray $44$, likely a misstatement; the intended count is $40$).
  • Point value: $2.5$ points per question.
  • Total possible points: $40 \times 2.5 = 100\,\text{points}$.
  • There is an extra-credit question at the end.
• Open-book/open-note expectations:
  • Do not rely on AI or cheating; complete the exam on your own.
  • Find a quiet space free of interruptions (roommates, siblings, pets, etc.); if you have a pet or an emotional-support animal, that is acknowledged as part of your environment.
• Time management tips given:
  • Avoid stopping the clock once you start.
  • Bank easy points first by reading questions initially, then answering, then returning to more challenging items.
  • If a nearby question reveals connections to others (e.g., multiple questions on the same topic like printing), your answers can help narrow down options on related questions.
  • You can scroll and answer in any order; you’re not forced to complete in a linear sequence.
• Extra context from experience:
  • A traditional strategy from paper-based exams is to read first, then answer; revisiting unanswered items later can reveal connections and boost efficiency.

Access, viewing, and timing details

• Blackboard access:
  • Exams appear under the specific module and the bottom of the main page; the instructor can see exams in editing mode, while students may not see them until the scheduled window.
  • The instructor will be grading papers this week and today (immediate grading window).
• Date/time specifics:
  • The instructor references “Seventeenth tomorrow, 8AM Central Daylight Time to technically 12:01” due to system constraints; the deadline remains the due date.
• On the day of the exam:
  • You can start at any time between opening and closing times; you do not need to be in class to take it.
  • If you encounter technical delays (e.g., Blackboard slowness), the extra duration is intended to mitigate that risk.

Strategy for success and study practices

• Read-first strategy during MCQ exams:
  • Read each question before answering to build context and anticipate related questions.
  • If you know an answer immediately, lock it in and move on; if not, proceed and return later.
  • Returning to the top after answering easy questions helps you spot connections and reinforce recall.
• Exploiting topic connections:
  • There may be several questions on the same topic (e.g., printing); recognizing that helps you infer correct choices across related items.
• Open-book/open-note technique:
  • Use Post-it notes to mark important pages or topics; write the key concept name on each note for quick access.
  • Do not rely solely on the index; place notes on pages with essential ideas and label them clearly so you can jump to them quickly.
• Handwritten notes and memory:
  • Handwritten notes and flashcards improve memory and recall; building a personal set of notes/cards acts as an “insurance policy” for recall under test conditions.
  • The process of creating these notes can itself improve long-term retention and reduce the need for them during the exam.
• Environment tips:
  • Choose a quiet, undisturbed space; minimize interruptions from people or pets.
  • If you have an emotional support animal or other support, plan accordingly to minimize distractions during the exam.

Extra credit, group project feedback, and office hours

• Extra-credit question:
  • Appears at the end of the exam; it combines a request for feedback on the early stage of the group project.
  • There is also an invitation to discuss the project during office hours or by using available meeting times.
• Class logistics:
  • There is no mandatory in-person attendance on Thursday; you may use office hours or arrange a meeting if needed.
• Grading philosophy and feedback timeline:
  • The instructor reviews how questions are answered and the overall distribution of responses to determine if any questions are poorly designed.
  • If a large majority (roughly 75–90%) of students get a question wrong, it’s typically considered the instructor’s fault rather than the students’, and adjustments may be considered.
  • Grades are expected to be released over the weekend after the exam period.

Course planning and next-week notes

• No official chapter in the book for next week:
  • The instructor notes there is no single chapter to study; plan your study schedule accordingly.
• Weekly planning guidance:
  • Use this information to organize your week without relying on a single chapter as the sole study target.
• Final reminders for exam week:
  • Prepare a quiet testing environment, ensure you understand the timing window, and leverage open-book resources and notes to maximize your performance.
• Summary of key logistics to remember:
  • Window: opens $8:00\ \mathrm{AM}$ on Wednesday; closes $11:59\ \mathrm{PM}$ on Friday.
  • Duration: $90\ \mathrm{minutes}$; open-book/open-note; do not pause once started.
  • Exam format: $40$ MC questions, $2.5$ points each; total $100$ points.
  • Accessibility: extended time if approved by disability services.
  • Tools: use Post-its and handwritten notes for fast reference; consider notes/cards to aid recall.
  • Extra credit: end-of-exam question for project feedback; office hours available for project discussion.
  • Grading: feedback delivered over the weekend; watch for instructors’ assessment of item validity and difficulty.