This section contains technical instructions for completing the two portions of your exam. Most of you should be able to navigate things without problems, but if you run into trouble, you can consult this page.
Please ensure that you have read the expectations below these instructions. These guidelines outline the expectations we have for proper academic conduct. Please also note the following on timing: I am providing you with an extended exam window, to provide flexibility to students who are now in other time zones, or dealing with additional complications as you attempt to do your exams from home. Please do not abuse this accommodation. Otherwise, we will be unable to offer similar accommodations in the future.
For most students, the expectation is that you will write your exam during the originally scheduled time. If you take a bit more than three hours, that's OK. But this is not a 48 hour exam and you should not treat it as such.
You exam comes in two parts: a written part, available via Crowdmark, and a WeBWorK part.
The WeBWorK portion is accessed as you would any online homework set: log into Moodle, and click the Online Homework link. Once you're in WeBWorK, you'll see an assessment labelled Final Exam. Don't click on this until you're ready to begin: there is a two hour time limit, and the timer begins as soon as you open the exam.
Note that I'm giving you two hours, but I expect most people will be able to finish in 90 minutes or less. Once you've answered all the questions, click on the Grade Test button. WeBWorK will score your test, and let you know which answers are correct. You will have one opportunity to correct any mistakes that you make. (Here is where you might use that extra 30 minutes.)
As long as you don't wait too long to attempt the WeBWorK portion, I'm giving you a second opportunity to try the test. After 24 hours, WeBWorK will generate a new version of the test. You do not have to take the test twice: the second oppportunity is there in case something goes wrong during the first one. I don't want you to fail the test because your internet cut out, or your laptop died.
The written portion of your test will be submitted through Crowdmark, just like your last three tutorials and your final term test. There will be a link to the final exam in Moodle. Clicking this link will take you to the exam.
For your final exam, please take extra care to ensure that when you photograph/scan your work, everything is legible, and the resolution is sufficiently high for us to view your work full screen on a standard size monitor. Note that once you upload your pages to Crowdmark, you can click on each thumbnail to see what the image will look like to us. You should also ensure that your pages are ordered correctly, and rotated to the correct orientation.
Please complete each question on a new page. You can use more than one page for a question, but you shouldn't put more than one question on a page.
When preparing your solutions, do your best to make them organized and clearly written. We've got a lot of exams to grade, and always appreciate neat work that is easy to grade. Also, please ensure that you show all necessary work. You should include enough detail to explain your thought process, and make it clear that you have done the work yourself.
Some troubleshooting advice: take all your pictures before you sign into Crowdmark to upload them. You can then drag and drop everything into place. (On a phone, just tap the "click here to upload" and then select your file.) For best results, please sign into Moodle using a web browser, and not the ULeth app.
An important note on timing: the Crowdmark portion is not timed. That said, I do not expect you to need to spend more than two hours on it. I am able to see the time at which you initially accessed the exam, and the time at which you submitted your answers. Generally I will not be concerned if I see a gap of three or four hours between these two times. However, if I notice a signficant gap between when you accessed the questions and when you submitted your answers, I'm going to be more likely to suspect academic dishonesty. (We are aware of the many cheating websites out there that will provide you with answers within a few hours if you have a paid subscription.)
A final note: as part of the Crowdmark portion of the exam, you will be asked to submit a written declaration that you have read the guidelines below, and agree to conduct yourself with honesty and integrity befitting a University of Lethbridge student.
These guidelines outline my expectations with regard to academic honesty. The most important thing to note is that the University's guidelines on academic misconduct remain in force, even as you write from home.
While cheating may now be harder for us to detect, it remains a serious offence. Academic misconduct includes sharing answers with classmates, and posting your questions on a "study help" (i.e. cheating) website. It also includes using content from unauthorized sources. Submitting solutions that are not your own, if detected, could result in a failing grade or even expulsion.
As noted above, although this is not a strictly timed exam, you are expected to write it under conditions equivalent to an open book in class exam. If you want to leave some time between the WeBWorK and Crowdmark portions, this is fine. But it is not acceptable to access the Crowdmark questions at the beginning of the exam window and submit your work 48 hours later. You should be trying to write as close to your scheduled exam time as possible. For Math 1410, that's April 15th, from 2-5 pm. For Math 2565, that's April 16th, from 9 am - noon. Under no circumstances is it acceptable for you to use the flexibility I'm providing to claim you have a scheduling conflict with another course.
If I notice a period of more than 6 hours has passed between when you access the Crowdmark exam and when you submit, I will be contacting you for an explanation.
You are allowed to use your textbook, your class notes, and any other course materials I have provided you with. (E.g. through Moodle.) Since I have to accept that there is no way for me to prevent/detect this, the use of any type of calculator is permitted. This includes graphing calculators, and online calculators such as Wolfram Alpha or the Linear Algbera Toolkit.
Citing an online calculator: if you use an online calculator to help with a calculation, it's sufficient to write something like "Using Wolfram Alpha, the answer is..." Some of these calculators provide step-by-step solutions. Do not include these, unless it is necessary to explain some other part of your solution. Simply give the answer, and where it came from. What you do not want to do is copy down the steps without citation. This counts as plagiarism.
Use of other online resources is prohibited. If you can't remember a definition or a formula, use the textbook. Your textbook has an index, and it's electronic, so it's easy to search within the book. Everything you need is in the book, and it's far too easy to start with a Google search and end with copying down a solution.
As with any in-class exam, you may ask me questions if you need clarification on a question. You can send me your questions via email, or use Piazza. When using Piazza, please note:
Communication between students is prohibited during the exam. You may not communicate details of your work with others in the class. Doing so is no different from copying during an in-class exam, and carries the same consequences. Collaboration is often suprisingly easy to detect!
Most of you have worked hard this semester, and demonstrated your ability and work ethic throughout the term. Put the same effort into your final exam, and you'll come out at the end with the result you want. Remember that your final exam is worth 30%. Most of you should come out of the exam with more or less the same letter grade you have going in.
Also remember that the university is giving you a lot of flexibility in your final grade this term. The extended drop deadline is in May: you can decide to drop after you know your final grade! And you can choose the pass/fail option. If you don't like the letter grade you get, you can have it changed to a pass.
Finally, let's be clear on one thing: the Uniersity of Lethbridge has made the admirable decision to put student welfare first. The pandemic and the restrictions that have come with it have been hard on everyone. But this is a conscious decision made by the university administration. Other institutions have gone in different directions. Here are some of the measures being used at other schools:
I think most of these measures are unfair, invasive, and stress-inducing in an already stressful time. Our university is right: student welfare comes first. But it can only come first if you meet us half-way, and conduct yourselves with honesty and integrity. Let's continue to work together and make the best that we can out of a bad situation. And remember: most of you are doing great in my classes! There's no need to cheat. Your work to date already demonstrates that you can do this on your own. Earn your grade. Conduct yourself with integrity and your acheivements are yours. Nobody can take that away from you.