10-06-2011, 07:53 PM
I opted to take TESC Flashtrack Course for War & American Society instead of on-line or guided study. This was my experience.
I received the Flashtrack drive one week after the course began although I registered for the course one week before the late registration deadline kicked in. I had to call them.
Once the flashdrive arrived, I discovered it served no real purpose because there is nothing on the drive about the course other than a syllabus, study modules which are VERY basic and an outdated calendar all of which could easily be emailed to you. There are program files on the drive, however, my computer already had those programs installed.
There is absolutely no communication with a mentor or anyone. You are on your own. The calendar shows that a Mid-term is required at week 5-6, but in reality, there is no mid-term. You are required to send in a Proctor form within the first week of the class beginning, however, when I called to tell the testing center I hadn't yet received the flashdrive I was told not to worry about that because the course only had a Final exam.
The Information Section on the drive said the Final Exam had a time limit of 3 hours, however, when I went to take the test (today), the time limit was only 2 hours!
The test comprised of TrueFalse, Fill-in Blank and Five (5) Essay questions. The essay questions were verbose, multi-focused problem statements with a suggested length of 75-100 words (Impossible to attain). The essays are 10 points each.
The test is not computer-based. Everything must be handwritten in INK (I wrote in pencil & went back and overwrote in ink - I didn't finish before time was up).
The test directions are truly ambiguous. You're directed to print your answer on the blank line at the end of the sentence, however the blank line is not at the end of the sentence, it's in the middle, beginning, etc. - So are you supposed to print the answer on the blank line in the middle of the sentence or on the blank line under the statement that separates the two questions? I chose to do both.
I found the 5 essays merciless, although I had been practicing writing them. The flashdrive does devote a whole section to essays - It is all of 4 measly paragraphs long and offers no examples of essay writing. So frustrating....They should at the very least offer full examples of what they are looking for.
Overall, I would not suggest going the Flashtrack method, at least for this course - You are definitely left on your own. - Perhaps too alone, considering the cost of the course and what they are expecting from the essay portion of the test.
I received the Flashtrack drive one week after the course began although I registered for the course one week before the late registration deadline kicked in. I had to call them.
Once the flashdrive arrived, I discovered it served no real purpose because there is nothing on the drive about the course other than a syllabus, study modules which are VERY basic and an outdated calendar all of which could easily be emailed to you. There are program files on the drive, however, my computer already had those programs installed.
There is absolutely no communication with a mentor or anyone. You are on your own. The calendar shows that a Mid-term is required at week 5-6, but in reality, there is no mid-term. You are required to send in a Proctor form within the first week of the class beginning, however, when I called to tell the testing center I hadn't yet received the flashdrive I was told not to worry about that because the course only had a Final exam.
The Information Section on the drive said the Final Exam had a time limit of 3 hours, however, when I went to take the test (today), the time limit was only 2 hours!
The test comprised of TrueFalse, Fill-in Blank and Five (5) Essay questions. The essay questions were verbose, multi-focused problem statements with a suggested length of 75-100 words (Impossible to attain). The essays are 10 points each.
The test is not computer-based. Everything must be handwritten in INK (I wrote in pencil & went back and overwrote in ink - I didn't finish before time was up).
The test directions are truly ambiguous. You're directed to print your answer on the blank line at the end of the sentence, however the blank line is not at the end of the sentence, it's in the middle, beginning, etc. - So are you supposed to print the answer on the blank line in the middle of the sentence or on the blank line under the statement that separates the two questions? I chose to do both.
I found the 5 essays merciless, although I had been practicing writing them. The flashdrive does devote a whole section to essays - It is all of 4 measly paragraphs long and offers no examples of essay writing. So frustrating....They should at the very least offer full examples of what they are looking for.
Overall, I would not suggest going the Flashtrack method, at least for this course - You are definitely left on your own. - Perhaps too alone, considering the cost of the course and what they are expecting from the essay portion of the test.