[nabs-l] FW: testing accomidation question

[pajohns1 at vt.edu]

Jim,

        I hope folks post their responses to the list and include Jim in the
cc.  I wonder why extra-time is needed on a take home comprehensive exam.
As a graduate student it is my responsibility to be able to quickly recall 
large amounts of data quickly and accurately.  To do this I spent many long 
hours organizing and rewriting notes in the process developing a system to 
quickly locate related data.  This is time intensive and often quite frankly 
was boring beyond belief.  It required sacrifices, but what really is more 
important than passing one's comps or final exam??  For me at least all the 
long hours paid off in that by the time I saw my comp questions I already 
had a basic answer planned and could spend my time finding supporting 
material and citations.

        Since the comprehensive exam covers material already covered in 
previous courses I strongly suspect a fair number of hints have been dropped 
on what is and what isn't important.  Also, there is the grapevine of 
students who have already taken and passed the exam.  Ask them about the 
nature and type of questions to be asked.  I'd even go so far as to ask the 
profs for suggestions on what to focus on in my preparation.

        It has been my experience having successfully passed three 
comprehensive exams that my profs wanted to ensure I knew the material and 
fairly acess me on the topics covered.  They never asked a question which 
hadn't been extensively covered in one of my core courses.

        Grad school is hard, no question about it, and it is even harder 
being blind, but it is by no means impossible.  Buckle down, start early, 
and study hard.  It can be done, there are enough of us on this list with 
multiple advanced degrees to prove it.

Patrick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JMassay" <jmassay1 at cox.net>
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 12:08 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] FW: testing accomidation question


> Please post to list for Jim Reed. Thanks,
>
> Jeannie
>
>
>
>  _____
>
> From: Jim Reed [mailto:jim275_2 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 7:51 PM
> To: jmassay1 at cox.net
> Subject: testing accomidation question
>
>
>
>
> Jeannie,
>
> I need to ask the NABS list an importiant question, but I am no longer on
> it. thus I can't post to the list. Are you on the NABS list? If so, could
> you post the following question for me? As I am not on the list, please
> have
> people reply directly back to me at jim275_2 at yahoo.com.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim
>
> Let me preface the following question by saying that I assume the reason
> my
> DSS office gives me extra time (time and a half) to take a test is because
> some blind people take longer to read and write than their blind or
> sighted
> counterparts.
>
> That said, I had several take home final exams last semester that were all
> given and due at roughly the same time, so I asked DSS for extra time, and
> I
> was denied. It says on mu DSS card that I am approved for extra time for
> taking test, yet the DSS office said that extra time does not apply to
> take
> home exams. Isn't a take home exam still a test?
>
> Anyhow, moving on...
>
> In January, 2010, I will have to take a comprehensive final exam covering
> all of my graduate classes. The way the exam works is that I will be given
> the exam questions one week prior to the exam date,  then, I have that one
> week to prepaire an outline of my response, and then, I  take the test.
> This
> is not quite the same thing as a take home exam because what you turn in
> as
> your exam is acctually written at the testing location, not at home.  I
> don't believe there is a time limit for this exam, but if there is, I know
> I
> will get extra time.
>
> I am worried about the week I will have to prepair my answers for the
> exam;
> I don't know that I will be physically able to review as much as I will
> need
> to, or to work as many hours as I will need to without my eyes giving out.
> With the exception of this semester's textbooks, all of my review
> materials
> (textbooks, exams, notes, handouts, etc.) will be in print format; that's
> a
> lot of readiing for eyes that like to get tired. During last semester's
> final exam week, I was often forced to stop working sooner than I intended
> to because I became unable to read or see the computer, regardless of the
> magnification I used.
>
> As I already mentioned, DSS denied my last request for extra time on a
> take
> home exam, so, I expect that they will do the same for my comprehensive
> exam.  I fear I will need the extra time to prepair, and not be able to
> get
> it. How can I make sure I get the extra time I need?
>
> As I am no longer subscribed to the NABS list, please email responses
> directlly to me at jim275_2 at yahoo.com.
>
> Thanks,
> Jim Reed
>
> "A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life
> depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert
> myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am
> still
> receiving." - Albert Einstein
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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