Student "edition" found at {csi dot journalspace dot com}.

Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

Continuing my discussion yesterday about students assuming they could use the existing wireless technology to bug their teachers anytime they want on things that they otherwise could find out for themselves at the proper time, there is also the supposition of the students that a requirement they otherwise always have isn’t pushing through because that’s what they want to believe.

I’m talking about the final written exam in my general science requirement mechanics lab class. Since I have started teaching this subject, the practical exam has never taken the place of the written finals, more so nowadays when the administration is shaking down those who do not schedule final exams, because of some vocal minority in the Integrated School who report this as a bad thing and the reason why they are not sure of letting their children study in the college here. This from the testimony of the self same high school students who are sour grapes about having to wear uniforms and not being able to leave the campus in the middle of the day.

Anyway, up to the day before the scheduled exam, I have been receiving text messages asking if there is still a written finals. I answered just one of those, but in the tone as if the reply is not coming from the teacher, since there is the possibility that my message would just be forwarded. I said, “There is a final exam schedule for the subject posted, and not once did the teacher announce in all of the class sessions that there will be no final exam.”

I can understand the first time takers having that wrong belief, when it is in their worst interest to do so. Why not plan for the possibility that there is a final exam and be pleasantly surprised if it turns out not to be true? Are they of the notion that they will regret the time they had spent studying that they could have used playing or hanging out with their friends?

I don’t see how seniors who have taken the subject three times already (and had a written finals each instance) could still ask that question, in all blind hope.

I like the attitude of one sophomore student better: he hopes there is a final exam, because he did poorly in the practical exam and he wants to make up for it.

I even told the first people who went to the faculty room to clarify the issue that it was their reward now to answer me what kind of exam they want: the same as the practical, where they have to detail everything from the objective to the conclusion, or computational just like the lecture. Of course they chose the first one.

Session 1583 could just assume the best and think they’ll get a highest grade for not attending the class at all. Class dismissed.