Passing Straighterline Accounting I and II

[Levi]

The exams ARE open book exams. You buy the book, you read the book, you look up answers in the book. The glossary is at the back of the book. It's OK to use the book and the glossary in the book during the open book exams

Tutoring should not be used while completing graded exams. Tutoring is designed to help you with studying, practice exercises, review activities, and other non-graded components of the course.

Maybe the policies have changed; I'm just going by what the SL advisor told me. Here is the transcript of an email exchange with Andrew Hoon, my course advisor:

[COLOR="Red"]Hello Mr. Hoon,

From what I understand, when taking a Straighterline graded quiz or exam, I am not allowed to use the textbook for any reason. Is this correct?

What about using the glossary at the back of the textbook during an exam? I just want to get this cleared up. I have only taken one graded quiz so far, and I did NOT use the textbook for any reason during the quiz.

Thanks.[/COLOR]

*******************************


[COLOR="Green"]Hello,


You are not supposed to use the textbook for any reason when taking an exam. That is fine if you have taken a quiz and not used the textbook. Just be sure to do the same for the rest of your quizzes. Let me know if you need anything else.


Andrew Hoon[/COLOR]

[Levi]

The original intent of this thread was to encourage people to buy the book and make use of the freely available online student resources that mirror the SL Accounting courses, rather than flying blind. Each person should choose the study method that they feel comfortable with.

That's fine...I'm not accusing you of anything. I just wanted to bring the issue up for clarification. I was a little confused...

[skyfall123]

SL has a student handbook, would you do me a favor and find the section that states that you can't use the book. If you aren't supposed to use the book when taking an exam then I'm sure they would state that in the student handbook. I only say this since many, many traditional schools allow open book exams. I know Andrew is an advisor and he suggested that it shouldn't be used in response to your question, but where is it written?

That's fine...I'm not accusing you of anything. I just wanted to bring the issue up for clarification. I was a little confused...

You are allowed to say anything you want

[sirjake]

SL has a student handbook, would you do me a favor and find the section that states that you can't use the book. If you aren't supposed to use the book when taking an exam then I'm sure they would state that in the student handbook. I only say this since many, many traditional schools allow open book exams. I know Andrew is an advisor and he suggested that it shouldn't be used in response to your question, but where is it written?

I just went through the handbook and there is *nothing* about using or not using a book during an exam/quiz. There is explicit information that you may not use tutoring or another person, but nothing about using the book, the internet, course materials or anything else.

Here's what it does say:

Academic integrity violations include all forms of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to:
• Plagiarism - Use of another person’s work or ideas without proper
acknowledgment of the source.
• Fabrication - Falsification or invention of any information, citation, data, or
document.
• Cheating - Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance or attempting to give
or receive such assistance in connection with the performance of any
academic work. SMARTHINKING tutoring should not be used while
completing graded exams.
• Collusion - Helping or allowing another student to commit any act of
academic dishonesty.

(Me writing again): IF using the book constitutes cheating, that should be explicitly spelled out, given the nature of the exams. And IF that is true, I think their business would fail almost instantly. There is NO way anyone who did not not have prior knowledge of the subject could pass these with an A in the order presented with the material provided. If SL would like to take more responsibility for the quality control of their course and present the material in such a way that the quizzes actually match up to the material, sure, I could agree, but even then, they need to make it clear before a student signs up that these are not open book exams.

Edited to add: Yes, I do realize that SL reads these posts and likely knows exactly who I am, based on my username and information. I have no problem with that.

[IgnazSemmelweis]

If SL wants to enforce a no textbook rule, they can offer proctored exams. Since they don't exercise that option or even spell out that you aren't supposed to use the textbook, using the textbook is perfectly acceptable.

[skyfall123]

If SL wants to enforce a no textbook rule, they can offer proctored exams. Since they don't exercise that option or even spell out that you aren't supposed to use the textbook, using the textbook is perfectly acceptable.

Exactly. SL started out as an off shoot of McGraw-Hill, so it makes sense that they utilized the online resources that were already in place (like the online student resource centers) in putting together their SL program. They also encouraged and still do encourage the SL students to purchase the book. So pointing out to people that you should utilize those existing resources is useful info. Whether people choose to do that is entirely up to them.

Andrew is not an original advisor. He came in after the program was in place and after SL changed hands. Is it possible that Andrew's personal interpretation is that you shouldn't use the book? Probably. Is it written policy? No. Should it be written policy? No. Why not? Because the exams are full of book specific minutia, (i.e. Last Word) that can only be gleened from the book. I would bet that you could take professors who teach accounting and they wouldn't all get A's on SL courses without referring to the book. I bet if you put Andrew through the course, he wouldn't either.

I happen to be a big fan of SL. I am not a big fan of sharing PDF's of the material (that doesn't help anyone), but I do encourage people to buy the book and utilize the online student resources that go into great depth explaining the material. I would also encourage people to keep the book as part of their permanent collection which they can then refer to down the road.

[Levi]

SL has a student handbook, would you do me a favor and find the section that states that you can't use the book. If you aren't supposed to use the book when taking an exam then I'm sure they would state that in the student handbook. I only say this since many, many traditional schools allow open book exams. I know Andrew is an advisor and he suggested that it shouldn't be used in response to your question, but where is it written?

Geezer, I emailed Andrew Hoon a second time about the open-book policy, and you're correct. Mr. Hoon was misinformed about policy. Here is the email he sent me today:

[COLOR="Green"]I apologize for that. I was misinformed about that. You can use your textbook during a test or quiz, however you cannot use a Smarthinking tutor. I apologize for the confusion. Let me know if you have any other questions.


Regards,


Andrew[/COLOR]

***************************

I'm relieved, because I've already taken three graded quizzes and one exam, without ever looking at the textbook during the quiz/exam. Now this will make things a lot easier.

[skyfall123]

I'm relieved, because I've already taken three graded quizzes and one exam, without ever looking at the textbook during the quiz/exam. Now this will make things a lot easier.

Levi, your heart is in the right place. That's a good thing. Enjoy the rest of the course.

[sirjake]

Geezer, I emailed Andrew Hoon a second time about the open-book policy, and you're correct. Mr. Hoon was misinformed about policy. Here is the email he sent me today:

[COLOR="Green"]I apologize for that. I was misinformed about that. You can use your textbook during a test or quiz, however you cannot use a Smarthinking tutor. I apologize for the confusion. Let me know if you have any other questions.


Regards,


Andrew[/COLOR]

***************************

I'm relieved, because I've already taken three graded quizzes and one exam, without ever looking at the textbook during the quiz/exam. Now this will make things a lot easier.

Awesome. That makes a ton more sense. And I'm glad to see that SL and their people are willing to correct errors.

Also, I will say that I do like SL. I've been happy with the material in general. It feels like there is enough repeating of the material that I'm actually learning it. There are some rough edges, but over all it's been a positive experience.

[rickyjo]

I just want to clarify that the PDF I'm distributing is simply the practice exams we are encouraged to use online, not anything from the actual course. I wasn't sure if Geezer was referring to my effort or not, I don't think so, just want to make sure.