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[GiglameshDespair]

Exams. Also, I missed a test in one of my courses. One worth 20% of my mark.

Fuck.

I don't even know how.

damn, that sucks.

[HFS]

Looks like I'm going to have to retake two courses now.

*Sigh* One because of the missed test, the second because what the fuck I cannot understand the prof.

[Lich180]

Looks like I'm going to have to retake two courses now.

*Sigh* One because of the missed test, the second because what the fuck I cannot understand the prof.

I feel you there. I walked out on a final exam in statistics the first time I took it. Our professor had NO idea how to do basic algebra, or even teach effectively, and apparently had taught my little brother algebra and eas fired for calling the whole class a "bunch of retards" because they didn't understand anything.

 I handed back an empty exam, with maybe a few pencil marks on the first page, and walked out. Got a few funny looks, but when the online homework from the book only handles the equations; which are complex little buggers, especially when you haven't learned anything about them in class and class only handles definitions and other miscellaneous trivia and not the equations work or how the equations actually function.

Retook stats the next year, got an A. Pretty sure its the crappy professor, not a lack of effort on my part, especially since I spent the retake class half asleep, because I worked nights and had class right after I got out of work.

[BlackFlyme]

Math exam tomorrow.

Most of the questions are multiple choice. Only three aren't, and are worth 10 marks each.

There are 30 multiple choice questions worth three marks each.

[Flying Dice]

Math exam tomorrow.

Most of the questions are multiple choice. Only three aren't, and are worth 10 marks each.

There are 30 multiple choice questions worth three marks each.

One of the non-multiple choice questions will be figuring out what percentage of the grade is constituted by each multiple choice questions without electronic aid. Or at least it would be if I were that professor. With the caveat that being off by more than 1% would result in automatic failure of the exam. 

[MagmaMcFry]

If I would create a math exam, I'd require the answers to be in paragraphs. Writing down numbers is easy, everyone can do that (let's not even talk about checking boxes). True understanding of the materials is shown by being able to describe the entire reasoning behind the answer in full sentences.

[BlackFlyme]

If I would create a math exam, I'd require the answers to be in paragraphs. Writing down numbers is easy, everyone can do that (let's not even talk about checking boxes). True understanding of the materials is shown by being able to describe the entire reasoning behind the answer in full sentences.

I believe I've mentioned this before, but we haven't actually learned anything. We've been relying on magical bullshit calculators that spit out our answers for us.

All we do is input the values and tell the calculator what piece of data we need answered. We aren't actually doing equations.

Well, I am. I didn't want to spend $50 on a calculator, and have been looking up the equations online, since they aren't in my text. The text only tells you what buttons to push on the calculator.

[misko27]

Police: "Put the pyramid down and step away from the computer".

Well I had alcohol at a younger age, certainly didn't kill me off. Of course I didn't have much, and some are more prone to problems then others (But as a slav I'm pretty high on that list, so.), but it isn't exactly a death sentence. Sure it shouldn't be glorified, but meh

It's Saturday.

Linear extrapolation suggests Rebecca Black's singles discography will continue strong into the late third quarter 2027 release of "Thursday," at which point we'll never have to worry about shitty pop songs again.

This one is bad, but not quite bad enough to be funny.

My impression in a nutshell. "Eh, I could find a better use of my time" also featured highly.

If I would create a math exam, I'd require the answers to be in paragraphs. Writing down numbers is easy, everyone can do that (let's not even talk about checking boxes). True understanding of the materials is shown by being able to describe the entire reasoning behind the answer in full sentences.

It's people like you who are working to undermine me. I do well on tests because I don't explain my reasoning, because my reasoning is highly spurious and deeply flawed; I just happen to be good at working out the answer anyway. I shine on multiple choice for this reason.

[kaijyuu]

If I would create a math exam, I'd require the answers to be in paragraphs. Writing down numbers is easy, everyone can do that (let's not even talk about checking boxes). True understanding of the materials is shown by being able to describe the entire reasoning behind the answer in full sentences.

I believe I've mentioned this before, but we haven't actually learned anything. We've been relying on magical bullshit calculators that spit out our answers for us.

All we do is input the values and tell the calculator what piece of data we need answered. We aren't actually doing equations.

Well, I am. I didn't want to spend $50 on a calculator, and have been looking up the equations online, since they aren't in my text. The text only tells you what buttons to push on the calculator.

Depends on the focus of the class. Is it for practical applications outside of pure mathematics? If so, then there's no real need to understand the equations; you just need to know what to do with them.

If I would create a math exam, I'd require the answers to be in paragraphs. Writing down numbers is easy, everyone can do that (let's not even talk about checking boxes). True understanding of the materials is shown by being able to describe the entire reasoning behind the answer in full sentences.

I always hated the "show your work" bullshit when I could do an entire problem in my head. That sort of exam would make me slam my pencil down and leave the room.

Unless it's a math class where I'm already writing everything down since the problems are difficult and complex enough that I have to. And then writing it out in english would just be added frustration.

[Bauglir]

Also, showing your work typically is done in complete sentences, it's just that you use a lot of specialized symbols because oh my god that would be a pain.

EDIT: They're complete sentences, just not in standard English. "d(x^2 + 12)/dx = 2x" is as complete a sentence as you could ask for, although I'll admit it'd be shaped a bit differently on paper, due to the limitations of easily typing things on this forum.

[Descan]

Unless you're the kind of person who has a burning need to understand everything, and would feel deeply annoyed to not be allowed to know the equations in-class.

Some of the most frustrating words I have heard or ever will hear in my life are "You don't need to know that."

Edit: To go further, knowledge for knowledge sake is like... numero uno. I would seek it out everywhere, even in a "practical" math class. Seeking understanding is not relegated to "pure" or "theoretical" sciences or mathematics.

[BlackFlyme]

The problem I have with this type of teaching is that if you were to take away everyone's calculator and replace it with a standard one, they wouldn't be able to do anything with it, since the calculator literally does everything for them, but everyone who uses a normal calculator gets shafted because we aren't told how to actually get the answers.

[kaijyuu]

Hate to be snarky, but you can learn things outside of a classroom if learning is your only goal

The problem I have with this type of teaching is that if you were to take away everyone's calculator and replace it with a standard one, they wouldn't be able to do anything with it, since the calculator literally does everything for them, but everyone who uses a normal calculator gets shafted because we aren't told how to actually get the answers.

Take away a fisherman's fishing pole and they can't do much either.

Unless they're badass and fish with their hands.

[Bauglir]

Although, yes, requiring a $50 expenditure to avoid the training they're certifying you for while refusing to actually provide is kind of a dick move, on several levels.

[Descan]

It's more like giving people a button they have to press for each fish type that'll catch it. All they have to do is identify the right fish (the right math problem) and press its button.

It shafts the people who have fishing rods because they're not being taught proper technique.

Also, learning is not the -only- goal, butthead (I'd call you a jackass but I doubt you get Corner Gas down there in 'Merricastan, so the reference would be lost)

But having a goal frustrated for no good reason, having learning frustrated for no good reason, (esp. considering you won't always have access to that specific calculator and so won't be able to follow those steps exactly) is extremely annoying.