MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE ATTACHED PAPERS. CORRECTIONS TO BE DONE ARE BELOW. 1) PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING The submission includes three sources and citations. However, the self-dire
A. Two things to do to avoid disappointment and send out care.
Action 1: Setting up the Proctoring Environment in Advance.
One step the student should have taken was to check and configure their testing environment based on the WGU online proctoring policy. It would include throwing away loose papers on the table, applying a cover on an extra monitor, and setting up an external webcam before the planned Objective Assessment (OA). These could have minimized the wastage of time and the panic response. WGU online proctoring policy notes that students are to prepare their examination room before the exam, such as a clean workspace and correct camera positioning (KThometz1, 2016). Being proactive in adhering to these will have helped ease checking in and reduced the stress of the testing day.
Action 2: Engaging with Course Materials Before Attempting the OA.
Another critical action would have been that the student should have interacted well with all the course content before booking the OA. The student expected to get the learning experience in the field, which cannot be guaranteed because WGU promotes learning course objectives. According to the Assessment Policy of WGU, students who do not pass the first attempt of OA are expected to create a study plan with the Course Instructor and should do learning by accomplishing the assigned learning activities before the OA (KThometz1, 2016). Through better preparation, the student would have had a better chance of passing without getting frustrated unnecessarily.
B. Self-directed learning Strategies.
B1. Note-Taking Technique: Cornell Method.
The Cornell Note-Taking System is highly effective for organizing and reviewing information. This method divides all pages into three columns: the right-hand column, where detailed notes are taken, the left-hand column, where keywords are recorded or a list of questions is kept, and the bottom as the summary column. WGU course materials propose the Cornell technique because it can maximize retention by enabling focused and organized review (KThometz1, 2020). The method urges active recall, which is most significant to exams such as the OA.
B2. Study Method: Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition is a well-tested technique for retaining information in your long-term memory. The repetition of material is at increasingly longer intervals, and the review process helps consolidate knowledge with time. WGU promotes this strategy when a complex concept should be better understood because this process promotes recall but not memorization (KThometz1, 2020). Spaced review sessions can be planned using tools such as Anki or physical flashcards.
B3. Time-Management Strategies
1. Priority List of Things To-Do.
Developing a priority list is one of the simplest but effective time management programs. It makes students work on the most essential assignments first, ensuring that crucial learning is not left unfinished. WGU recommends prioritizing tasks to prevent procrastination and reduce stress (WGU, 2016). In this student's case, a priority list would assist him in organizing his studying routine and guarantee that he has as much time to review the course material before repeating the OA.
2. Pomodoro Technique.
The Pomodoro Technique comprises 25 minutes of work and 5 minutes of break. This process makes one more concentrated and productive and avoids burnout. WGU recommends such methods as Pomodoro that help to stay concentrated for a long time but provide frequent breaks (KThometz1, 2020). This technique would benefit the student in the scenario because it can help them not drift out of focus during study sessions and not wander about when preparing to retake the OA.
C. Professional Emails. Academic Program Mentor.
Subject: Reflections and Request for Support Following My OA Attempt
Dear [Name of Mentor],
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to share my experience with the Objective Assessment and to request your help in my future attempts.
I was confident that I had internalized the course contents through my work experience, which was confirmed after passing the pre-assessment. However, I booked the OA for the following day without preparing well for the course content. During the day of OA, the proctor requested that I clear the loose papers from my desk, adjust the webcam, and cover a second monitor. Such interventions were abrupt and negatively impacted the timing of the initiation, making me more anxious and disappointed. Regrettably, I did a hasty job reviewing the questions and did not pass.
I realized two things after going through the WGU Student Policy Handbook. First, proctoring can last as long as 30 minutes and must be done within a compliant proctoring environment in a clean workspace and a single monitor (WGU, 2016). Second, the Assessment Policy states that, if the student wants to take an OA a second time, they must pass all learning activities and develop a study plan with their Course Instructor.
I have learned now to take my preparation very seriously, not only by going over the course materials, but also by taking care of having a compliance-friendly testing environment. I would like to accept any recommendations you can share regarding my retake because I am determined to do it better.
Sincerely,
Justice Ate Awung
WGU Student.
References
KThometz1. (2016, February 15). Assessment Policies- WGU Knowledge Center. Cm.wgu.edu. https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/WGU-Student-Policy-Handbook/Assessment-Policies/ta-p/133
Kthometz1. (2020, December 29). Being Successful with Online Proctoring- WGU Knowledge Center. Cm.wgu.edu. https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/Information-Resources/Being-Successful-with-Online-Proctoring/ta-p/134
WGU. (2016). WGU Student Policy Handbook-WGU Knowledge Center. Cm.wgu.edu. https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/WGU-Student-Policy-Handbook/tkb-p/studentpolicyhandbook
