Time Limited Exams: Student Perceptions and Comparison of Their Grades versus Time in Engineering Mechanics: Statics

Abstract

Carisa Ramming is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where she obtained degrees in Architectural Engineering and Civil Engineering Construction Management. She worked in industry for six years as licensed engineer and structural consultant for Wallace Engineering in Tulsa, OK before returning to Oklahoma State as a visiting faculty member in the School of Architecture. In 2009, Professor Ramming joined the faculty full time as an assistant professor of architectural engineering. Since that time, she has taught classes in structural analysis, timber and steel design, engineering mechanics: statics, building foundations and numerical analysis.

Work in Progress: Introducing a coffee break to improve exam performance and reducing student stress in construction majors

“…However, there is substantial evidence in relation to the stress caused by traditional exams, causing a deficient performance of several students and generating complaints after taking the exams, arguing that the stress and worry made their minds unclear, and they forgot the knowledge acquired [2] . In construction majors, exams are mostly taken in the traditional way, that is, individually, with limited time and without the help of notes or didactic material; this being the case in exams at all academic levels [3] Stress occurs not only when students do not remember a concept or are insecure about their knowledge, but also when students have the knowledge but a state of concern is triggered that prevents correct reasoning and application of the knowledge acquired [4].…”

“…One of the main factors in traditional exams that generate stress is limited time, resulting in low academic performance [3]. These exams are used because the academic term has extremely limited time schedules.…”

“…Although time is a trigger for anxiety, increasing time is not an idea supported by researchers [19]- [21]. The idea of increasing time or giving unlimited time is not so accepted because excess time causes uncertainty in students [3]. In the case of most evaluation methods, the level of stress in students increases when they are taking the exam and even in the previous days.…”