By Erin Campbell |Staff Writer|
There are two approaches to structuring a college class that all students are familiar with and favor one more than the other.
Method one and the most often used with large enrollment classes calls for only a midterm and final.
The second method includes several tests, quizzes, homework assignments, special projects and participation.
A survey of about 20 students revealed they preferred the second method because it gives them more opportunity to do well in the class.
When asking students on campus on which class they prefer, I referred to method one as test-focused classes and method two as bulk classes.
“I prefer the bulk classes over test-focused because the extra work allows me to still do well in my class,” said student Julia Beauerschmidt.
“In my honest opinion, I believe the ideal school experience would be taking bulk classes,” said student Harim Sanchez. “You get more out of your education that way. It’s an experience of learning and developing.”
Test-focused classes can be just as beneficial as bulk classes. Many students think test-focused classes can be dull and stressful; however, these classes are designed to help students focus on strict information they need to know in order to pass the class.
“Test-focused classes aren’t my preference; however, I do better in those classes because I know what is expected of me,” said student Luis Escalante.
Test-focused and bulk classes both have advantages and disadvantages. Students who typically do well on tests prefer test-focused classes because it’s less work for them to do in the long run.
For students like Escalante, preparing for a test is easier and less demanding than working on many assignments for the same class.
However, bulk classes can be better for students who rely on participation, attendance, special projects and homework because those aspects of their grade can serve as a cushion. This still gives students the opportunity to do well in the class.
These types of classes offer the chance for students to learn the material in different ways such as group projects and hands-on experiences.
According to textbook “The Educational Psychology,” “The functional organization of the brain and the mind depends on and benefits positively from experience.”
The brain processes and remembers information better when the learning experience is memorable.
Whether you prefer the test-focused class or bulk class, the only thing that matters is that you are remembering the material in a way that is best suited for you.