Thinking about Diversity. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 2 Why is it valuable to think about diversity? You’re

Thinking about DiversityThinking about Diversity

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Disarming Tests - 2

Why is it valuable to think about diversity?

• You’re likely to learn and work with people from many cultures.

• Sharing in success means learning new ways to think, speak, and act.

• Higher education can help reinforce an attitude of tolerance, open-mindedness, and respect for individual differences


How can thinking help us embrace diversity?

• Attitudes of open-mindedness and respect for individual differences helps us in synergistic relationships.

• Ask questions, demand evidence, examine logic, and insist on accurate information to release stereotypes.


What does it mean to embrace diversity?

• People can differ in countless ways. Higher education can help reinforce an attitude of tolerance, open-mindedness, and respect for individual differences.

– Create alliances with people where diverse races and cultures meet in an atmosphere of tolerance. Consider joining a club or volunteering in your local community.

– Seek value in working with people who are different than you. While cultural differences exist, listen to different viewpoints and become aware of your surroundings.


What if there are differences that are challenging to overcome?

• Apply critical thinking strategies to embrace diversity Daily reviews: short, several times per day– Create new ideas by conducting

brainstorms.

– Talk to classmates.

– Form study groups.

– Uncover assumptions


Thinking and diversity in the workplace

• Living and working in a multicultural world can change your life. – Look for ways to create synergistic relationships.

– Spend time with people who speak and live consistently with the attitudes you value.

– Demand evidence, examine logic and insist on accurate information to release stereotypes.

– Use critical thinking and communication tools to discuss differences when working with people whose ideas are different than your own.

– Exercise leadership and look for ways to accommodate differences in learning styles.


Be a Master Student

• Master students:

– Are able to suspend judgment (Quiet internal dialogue and listen to an opposing viewpoint)

– Are willing to participate (Join in conversations)

– Are inquisitive (Pose questions to learn more about the community you live and work in)


Ways to Predict Test Questions

• Get organized

– Have a separate section in your notebook labeled “test questions”

• Ask your instructor to describe the test

• Ask yourself: What questions would I ask?



• Watch for clues from instructor during class

– Repeating certain points

– Writing information on board

– Gestures

– Questions posed to students

– Extensively covering some material from readings



• Save all quizzes, papers, lab sheets, and graded material

• Practice working problems using different variables

• Brainstorm test questions with other students



Look out for:

This material will be on the

test!


Studying with Others

• Test each other• Teach each other• Compare notes• Brainstorm test

questions• Set an agenda• Three at a computer

• Create wall-sized mind maps

• Give “book reports” in pairs

• Lecture each other• Ask for personal

support


What to Do During the Test

• As you begin

– Arrive early

– Do a relaxation exercise

– Pay attention to verbal directions



• As you begin

– Scan the whole test

– Evaluate the importance of each section

– Read the directions slowly, twice

– In margins, jot down memory aids, formulas, equations, facts



• Answer easiest, shortest questions first • Then answer multiple choice, true/false,

fill-in-the-blank• Use memory techniques• Pace yourself• Look for answers in other

test questions


Multiple-Choice Questions

• Check directions to see if more than one answer is called for

• Answer questions in your head before looking at answer choices

• Read all answers to each question before selecting one


Multiple-Choice Questions

• Your first instinct is usually best

• Use guessing techniques when appropriate


True/False Questions

• Answer quickly• Read carefully• Look for qualifiers

– All

– Most

– Sometimes

– Never

– Rarely


True/False Questions

• Absolute qualifiers often indicate false statements

– Always

– Never


Computer-Graded Tests

• Make sure the answers you mark correspond to the right questions

• Check the test booklet against the answer sheet

• Do not make stray marks on the answer sheet


Open-Book Tests

• Write formulas you need on separate sheet

• Place Post-It® notes or paper clips on important pages

• Number your class notes and write a short table of contents

• Prepare thoroughly


Short Answer/Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

• These often ask for definitions or short descriptions

• Concentrate on key words and facts

• Be brief


Matching Tests

• Read through each column

• Make note of differences between similarly worded items

• Match words that are similarly grammatically

• Look for the word that logically completes a phrase


Essay Questions

• Find out precisely what the question is asking

• Make a quick outline

• Get right to the point

• Put the most solid supporting points first


Essay Style

• Write legibly

• Use a pen

• Be brief

• Use one side of the paper only


Words to Watch for in Essay Questions

• Analyze• Compare• Contrast• Criticize• Define• Describe• Discuss

• Explain• Prove• Relate• State• Summarize• Trace


The Costs of Cheating

• We learn less• We lose money• Fear of getting

caught promotes stress

• Violating our values promotes stress

• Cheating once makes it easier to compromise our integrity

• Cheating lowers our self-concept

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Thinking about Diversity. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Disarming Tests - 2 Why is it valuable to think about diversity? You’re