Final Exams During Covid-19

Final exams are going to look different this year at Arrowhead for students and teachers alike. The Coronavirus has impacted students’ learning, splitting them between Zooming into classes or going to school in-person. 

First-semester final exams are held from January 13th – 15th. Students usually go into their classes and take it as a whole, all in-person and timed. With students online, teachers are creating a different approach. Many exams are taking the form of a large Canvas quiz; others are projects that will span several days. 

However, with students online, some fear a lack of academic integrity. 

Richard Witte, an Arrowhead math teacher, is not worried about his students’ grades dropping because of the scattered year or cheating.

“I have confidence in [my students]. All I have seen from students so far this semester is a willingness to work hard and do the best they can. I expect the same as finals approach.”

Katie Herrman, an Arrowhead English teacher, said, “I’m a little worried about student learning loss as a result of the many interruptions we’ve had to our learning format this year…” 

Some teachers are taking a different approach to administering their exams. To make sure it runs with no complications, they are presenting exams sooner rather than the designated date. This allows teachers to smooth out any bumps that come with virtual students’ technology. 

Steven Melzer, an Arrowhead business education teacher, is taking this approach. He is administering his exam as a project before the actual January dates, giving his students time to fully commit.

Teachers have also adjusted their traditional exams and transformed them into projects for the students. These will take place over several days instead of the intended exam day. 

Others haven’t made a decision regarding the form the exam will take, or what specific parts they will include.

Craig Haase, an Arrowhead social studies teacher, said that his department has not decided on what the test will comprise of. His American Problems class does a project in place of an exam, while his US History course takes a multiple-choice and written one. The decision on what will be included in that test is undetermined.

Haase said, “Last semester, because of Covid, we did not give the exam. As of today, we have not yet decided as a department if we will be doing the comprehensive written and multiple-choice version or some type of abbreviated version.”