Lesson Report:
**Title:**
Midterm Preparation: Conceptual Comparisons & Exam Guidelines
**Synopsis:**
In today’s class, the focus was on preparing for the upcoming midterm exam. Students participated in group activities aimed at reviewing important concepts by comparing and explaining relationships between paired terms. The instructor also provided detailed guidelines and expectations for the midterm, emphasizing the importance of understanding concepts rather than memorizing definitions. Key exam policies were reiterated to ensure students are fully prepared for both the multiple-choice/short-answer and essay sections.
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**Attendance:**
– **Absent Mentioned:** None explicitly stated, only Rodion was without a partner initially but was later successfully paired into a group.
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**Topics Covered:**
1. **Introduction & Overview of Lesson Goals:**
– A brief introduction explained the shift in lesson focus from reading material (not covered today) to midterm preparation.
– Acknowledgment that Tuesday’s class left students concerned about the short answer section of the midterm.
– The instructor reassured students they would focus on collective review activities and midterm readiness.
2. **Group Review Activity – Conceptual Pairings:**
– Students were asked to resume an activity from Tuesday where they discussed the relationships between two designated terms.
– Students partnered up, and one group member (Rodion) was reassigned to another group due to his current group’s absence.
– Instructions were given for students to craft a 2-sentence explanation of the relationship between their assigned terms, focusing on:
– Dependency (Is one term dependent on another?)
– Influence or opposition (Are they opposed or influenced by one another?)
– Whether one concept can exist without the other.
– Students were strongly advised to avoid using electronic devices during both the activity and the exam to simulate exam conditions.
3. **Midterm Exam Instructions and Concept Clarification:**
– **Logistics:**
– The midterm exam will take place over two days:
– Multiple-choice and short-answer sections on Tuesday.
– Essay section on Thursday.
– Emphasis on zero tolerance for electronic devices during the exam (use results in automatic zero).
– **Important Terms:**
– A link to a Google Doc with 60 relevant terms for midterm review was provided via the e-course.
– Advice against memorizing strict dictionary definitions; instead, students should focus on understanding and comparing concepts as discussed in class.
– **Paper Notes Permitted:**
– Students were reminded they could bring and use paper notes during the exam but not digital devices, ensuring they prepare with materials they’ll have available.
– **Specific Chapters and Texts:**
– Heywood (up to Chapter 8, not 9) and texts from Raskin were mentioned.
– Midterm questions will derive from concepts discussed in class, rather than directly lifting from the textbook.
4. **Group Exchange Activity – Peer Review:**
– Once students completed their explanations, they were then instructed to exchange their two-sentence explanations with another group.
– The purpose of the exchange was to expose students to other conceptual pairings and explanations, further reinforcing the comparative approach to the exam content.
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**Actionable Items:**
1. **Exam-readiness & Review:**
– *Midterm Part 1 (Tuesday)*: Multiple-choice and short-answer sections.
– *Midterm Part 2 (Thursday)*: Essay section.
– Confirm all students can access the Google Docs with important terms for review.
2. **Electronic Device Regulations (High Priority):**
– Reiterate to students the no-tolerance policy on phones and electronic devices during the exam. Clarify the consequences again before the exam begins to avoid misunderstandings.
3. **Clarification on Partner Groupings:**
– Ensure Rodion was properly integrated into his new group for future group-based activities.
– Double-check that all students are clear on their group partners for future sessions in case group work will continue.
4. **Alternate Communication Reminder:**
– Ensure all students are part of the appropriate Telegram group (as seen in the brief conversation regarding the group chat in class).
– Follow up with any students not part of the correct group/chat functionality for future coordination.
5. **Post-Exam Review:**
– Plan a post-exam review session (after the midterm) for addressing common errors or misunderstandings, especially in the short answer section since there was much anxiety surrounding it.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
The transcript contains no homework instructions and focuses primarily on completing review activities to prepare for the upcoming midterm. The professor does not assign any tasks to be completed outside the class, as evidenced by statements such as “The activity that we’re working on right now is going to help you prepare for the short answer section of the exam.”