What would you do?

[SocDoc33]

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Im a non-trad and wanted to get a non-trad perspective. In my current biochem class I heard students talking about how easy the test was and how everyone has the old exams which our test is comprised of. I thought it was strange when over half the class got an A on the first test but now I know why. I barely got a B on the first test and I think I bombed the second test. I need this class so I can take the next section the next semester and graduate. So my question is, what would you do in my situation? I'm not going to ask the other students for the old tests so don't include this as an option. Should I talk to the professor? I wouldn't tell him specifically where I heard it from. I've never been in this situation.

 

[HardToStarboard]

Im a non-trad and wanted to get a non-trad perspective. In my current biochem class I heard students talking about how easy the test was and how everyone has the old exams which our test is comprised of. I thought it was strange when over half the class got an A on the first test but now I know why. I barely got a B on the first test and I think I bombed the second test. I need this class so I can take the next section the next semester and graduate. So my question is, what would you do in my situation? I'm not going to ask the other students for the old tests so don't include this as an option. Should I talk to the professor? I wouldn't tell him specifically where I heard it from. I've never been in this situation.

Turn them in. By name. Period. Honor code violations are stupid and for the weak-minded.

 

[TwinsFan]

Using old test to study from is not necessarily an honor code violation. Some teachers give them out or post them online, others tell the class to procure them on their own to study from. If one of these is the case for your class then go get copies of the tests. If not, then communicate what is happening to the teacher and ask if it is a violation, report if necessary.

 

[HardToStarboard]

Using old test to study from is not necessarily an honor code violation. Some teachers give them out or post them online, others tell the class to procure them on their own to study from. If one of these is the case for your class then go get copies of the tests. If not, then communicate what is happening to the teacher and ask if it is a violation, report if necessary.

Good point. If the old exams are released then it's not a violation. Otherwise, report it.

 

[wholeheartedly]

Yeah, it really depends on the instructors policy. I've had a mix too. You could just stop by his office and mention that you heard some students had old exams and you were wondering if he was ok with students using them to review.


I had one class in grad school where students weren't supposed to use them and they all did. The class was curved. I wound up just missing the grade I needed and it really pissed me off because I earned every point without the old exams. After the course I saw one of them and the faculty teaching hadn't changed the questions at all. I did tell the course advisor that students had them and that maybe the faculty should try changing their questions to make it more fair for those of us that didn't. His response was basically oh they shouldn't have done that. That was it. From what I heard they never bothered to address it for future classes either.

 

[megavideolinks]

I would definitely make more grant and scholarship money available for all nontraditional students.

I also would have every trade school, high school, college and university have special offices and trained people and offices just for nontraditional students. These offices and people would give advice, have information available, and give support to all the nontraditional students who want to make a better life for themselves and their families.

I would also have schools educate younger people about why older people are going to school, and somehow explain how they are just people, maybe not just like them, but still valuable and worthwhile. I would like to see clubs and organizations open their doors to older people to be a part of these groups and make friends because of it.

More daycares would definitely make life better for nontraditional students with families, and not just daycares for the youngest children, but daycares for children of all ages, and ways for them to get to these areas from their schools, if possible.

And also I would make sure that every older person had information so that they could make a choice for themselves and decide whether they wanted to go back to school.

I'm sure I didn't cover everything. What do other people think would make things better for nontraditional students?

 

[LupaCupcake]

Don't want to be the bad guy, but you want to save your bootie from bad grades.😎

Go to the teacher and say something like "I heard that old tests were being passed around as helpful study guides. Do you have any more copies of those because I dont recall ever seeing one and I would appreciate any study guides you have distributed"

So you are letting him/her know what is going on while at the same time finding out if it is owkay by the teacher or they get upset by it.

 

[theseeker4]

I agree with the above, and would add that if the old tests are not a violation of the honor code and the prof doesn't seem concerned that others are using them, don't cut off your nose to spite your face by still refusing to use them because you think they shouldn't be used. If the school and the professor both allow it, there is no moral or ethical obligation to put yourself at an unfair advantage.

Now if it is a blatant violation of the honor code, follow the steps laid out there in making the professor and anyone else who needs to know aware of the problem.