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Dec. 3, 2024
Last week of classes!! Woohoo!! Way to go! You have got this!
You are down to just a handful of days left in the semester and the finish line is
just up ahead. Now is the time to give it all you’ve got. Get up in the stirrups and
let the (mental) horses run for home!
You made it through 15 weeks of classes. Amazing. You have read chapters and chapters,
completed papers and projects, knocked out quizzes and exams, and stretched your brain
to its limits. It is all about to pay off with one final hurdle – you have got this.
Over the weekend, I was on campus and I saw students hustling here and there, hitting
the books and putting in the time. I am so impressed with the commitment I saw – I
know you are juggling so much and I am so proud of you. Many of you are balancing
family issues and job issues and you are doing so great. Stay focused, hang in there,
and get it done.
Let’s get real about finals for a moment. Obviously, these tests and capstone projects
are designed to allow your instructors to assess what you have learned in your courses.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of assessments, formative and summative. In
fact, there is a whole science behind learning and assessment – it is fascinating stuff. Formative assessments feature things like feedback and
opportunities for improvement that help you to develop and ‘form’ your ongoing understanding.
Summative assessments are designed to test the sum of your understanding. They are
usually at the end of a unit or a course. This is important because, by design, there
isn’t usually an opportunity to go back and revisit and deepen your understanding
for additional or future assessment. A summative assessment is the end of the road.
We call them ‘finals’ for a reason. They are the Superbowl, the World Series, and
the World Cup of the assessment world.
The stakes are often higher with summative assessments, and they are often more stressful
than formative assessments – but they don’t have to be. Or, at least, that doesn’t
mean you need to succumb to the negative aspects of unhelpful stress. If I gave you
a copy of next week’s finals today, your stress would diminish considerably. Here’s
a secret; in many cases, you already have the exact material that is going to be on
that summative assessment. The trick is to sort through all of the information you’ve
received over the past weeks (depending on whether your final exam is cumulative or
not) and correctly anticipate what sorts of understandings you are going to be asked
to demonstrate.
How do you anticipate that? The pro move is to go to those study sessions, read the
study guides, go over your notes and texts for key concepts, and compare your predictions
for what is going to be on the exam with a friend or your study group. Then, put the
time in. There is no shortcut. The pros put the time in.
Also, take care of yourself in the coming days. Try to avoid all-nighters. Eat right.
Sleep right. You are a highly trained professional (learning) athlete. Feed your body
and brain the fuel it needs. Watch out for sugar and caffeine bombs that will rob
you of your energy down the road. Go for the nuts and fruits and proteins and fats!
Stay the course and keep your pace!
Energize, strategize, prioritize. Stay focused and put in the time. You are doing
awesome!
Things to do:
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I have said it before, I will say it again. Meet with your advisor. Register for
your spring classes. Get it done. Establish the bedrock for your spring semester success.
In closing, take a moment to breathe. You have come so far in the term, make sure
to play your best game, and lay down your best performances in the days ahead. However,
keep your perspective. Your academic achievements aren’t everything. Take care of
yourself. Appreciate your friends and loved ones. Get outside. Whatever lessons you’ve
learned this semester, you’ll have ample opportunity to apply next semester. Do your
best, but try to hold your stress about finals in a positive place. You will feel
better as you spend time investing in yourself and your preparations for the assessments
yet to come.
As ever, if you have suggestions to send my way, please do so. I’m at: obguthrie@alaska.edu.
— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management
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