Exams

**Note, this somewhat has to do with Australia, but it could be about education in general. Enjoy.**

I had my first exam yesterday. So here's a timeline of how the day unfolded.

9:00. Wake up. I heart college.

9:30. As I eat breakfast, that part of my mind that forgets things poses the question, "Are you sure your exam is at 2 and not 9?"

9:45. In no hurry to get a good grade, I finally check OSIS. Exam is at 2.

10:00-11:30. Study a bit more, say the phrase "I got this down," 19 times. Repeat Kalle Lasn at least 20 times so I remember her name for my essay on culture jamming.

11:30-12:00. Surf Internet, play solitare.

12:30. Go to library to check e-mail I can't check in dorm.

1:00. Go buy some chips (thats Aussie for fries) and some gum. Consider this lunch.

1:30. Head up to the gym. Yes, the gym. For exam. Pass by UniBar.

1:31-1:33. Seriously debate going into UniBar and getting a shot of something, just for fun. Ultimatley decide this would be a bad idea.

1:40. Arrive at gym. We're not allowed in yet. Make small talk with classmates. One of my friends is taking the same approach I am (the winging it approach) and we're doing the same questions. Awesome.

1:45. We're allowed into the gym. Here's how its laid out. In the gym, there are rows upon rows of desks, all with test booklets on them. There are four classes taking their exam at this time. So, you go to the quadrant thats assigned to you. At the front of this giant hall is a podium. Thats where the Offical Exam Lady Person (probably not her real title) gives instructions. This was the first time I had ever been intimidated by an exam. Really, its not a stress free environment. Your in this huge room, that despite being full of people is very empty, and there's a person giving out instructions in a rather monotone way. For some reason the scene reminded me of "Brave New World" (minus the sex), but that might have been because I ran across the word Huxleyan earlier in the day.

2:00 START WRITING! GO! GO! GO!

2:40. I finish essay #1 where I feel I made several valid points comparing the Luddite movement of the 1300s to globalistation today.

2:45. After regaining feeling in my hand, I write essay #2. GO! GO! GO!

3:15. I make not as valid points on culture assertiveness. I rambled on about sports and how it relates to culture. Perhaps that shot would have been a good idea, I think. No, it wouldn't have been, I argue back. Only 45 minutes to go...essay #3.

3:17 KALLE LASN! I remebered her name, and I use it in the essay. I am Essay Writing Odin.

3:45. As I am wrapping up my self-acclaimed brilliant essay on culture jamming, they give the 15 minute warning, which means you are no longer allowed to leave the exam room.

3:50. I finish my exam. I have to sit there. I draw ducks in the exam booklet out of sheer boredom. I think to myself, "This is 10 minutes in Australia I will never get back."

4:00 STOP WRITING! Then have to sit while all exams are collected. There's another five minutes gone.

This part baffled me the most about the process. Whats so special about the last fifteen minutes that you can't just up and leave? Thats one of the reasons I love college over high school (one amongst many) is that once your done with a test, you can just leave. Not so in Australia.

Thats about it for the exam day. Kind of a weird experience, but nothing to bad. Got one more to go. I'll remember to finish with more than 15 minutes to go this time.

Higher education in Australia

I should probably be doing other things, like school work, but I'll blog about doing school work instead. Besides, I have a fairly good idea of how things are going to go in terms of the big essay thats due, so I'm not all that worried.

Anyway, here's my view of higher education in Australia. In general, its more independent then American college is, and that has its perks and its drawbacks.

In a typical class, you'll have one lecture and one tutorial (discussion) a week per class. So, you're in class for eight to ten hours a week. Most people get Friday off, and if you're awesome like I am, you get Monday off as well. There's something like sixteen weeks in a semester, so I'll go to Uni for about 48 days...probably closer to 45 with public holidays.

At least at UC, a lot of the content is put up on WebCT. Now, we have WebCT in the states, but not to the degree that its used here. Lecture notes get posted, lectures are streamed, and the professor will interact with students on the forums. Does this happen in the States? For some classes, yes. This has happened in all four of my classes here. Given that at SIU, a lot of courses don't even use WebCT, I found this to be interesting.

As far as grades go, you basically get three shots at grades. Tutorial participation, an essay, and then a final exam. Some courses do give out homework, and there are weekly readings, but that hasn't happened in my courses, or at least the weekly readings isn't tested on.

Now, I come from the American education system who, if students had a motto, might be "Slack off to win." The professor isn't going to test you on your readings? Why am I reading it then? There are more important things to do, like video games and drinking. Maybe you do some readings, but if there isn't a sense of urgency around it, people don't bother.

Here, you're on your own for the most part. And if you don't do the readings, it doesn't hurt you now but it probably will later on. I'm starting to realize this. To me, its hard to get into the flow of my classes because I'm used to having homework and things due every week or so. Here, that sort of thing doesn't happen and what I did normally back in the states doesn't work here.

The moral of the story: if you study abroad, do the readings!

That said, I'm pretty good at studying at the last minute and doing school work under pressure. So, two points to me.

After essays I turned in and tutorials are done its time for final exams. This is going on in the states now, and I remember this week to be actually fairly relaxing with a few bursts of stress when I would take tests. I'm sure others have a different version of Finals Week (one that includes no sleep and/or pulling of hair).

Here's a great alternative: spread out finals over three weeks. Thats what they do here. All the finals take place at the gym, and so they have to spread them out over three weeks. Why do they do this? I don't have a clue. Its possibly the most inefficiant way to run a finals schedule. Plus, they only do two tests a day, each one lasting two hours.

So basically...my final three weeks are going to be easy as pie. I'll study, do some sightseeing around Canberra, get around to posting about Vegemite. Those sort of things. I only have two exams in three weeks.

Considering I find exams to be low stress anyway...I can't wait for finals here. Three weeks of nothingness! Awesome.

To those back in the states, enjoy the exams. I'm enjoying Australia.

Alan

A lesson in the postal service and my classes

Recently, I needed to mail something down to Australia. Since it was for housing, I felt it was important that it get there fast. At the Post Office I inquired about express delivery to Australia. Keep in mind this is only an envelope with a letter in it.

Normal its 1.89. Express its 35 something.

Unless this express mail actually delivers the mail yesterday, we'll take our chances with the cheaper service, which takes teen days.

Onto my classes. No schedule yet, but I am enrolled in...


Creative Writing. I'v always wanted to take this kind of class, so here we go. Maybe I'll write about a dashing young American who always gets the girl. Now wouldn't that be fantasy.

Internet and Media Communication. And you thought that the Internet was only for sports scores and feet fetishes. HA! You can mass communicate on it too.

Sports Marketing. I have no idea how I would have a use for this class. Ever....

Those are the official ones. I'm trying to get into New Technology and Globalisation. Like the Matrix, but without the Kung Fu.

Thats about it for now. Until then,

Alan