iPod during finals

id like to do that, but they might tell you to take the hood off. esp if u go to a privite school like me

I go to a private college, and a very small one at that (about 500 students...just shy of my graduating high school class), but we're also very open. We have an honor code that gives us liberties that other schools might not have. Whenever new students matriculate and become official members of the campus community, we all sign the Roll of Honor, which is our written pledge that we will abide by the morals of the college and uphold the Honor Code. Now, to be honest, this is a ceremony for the parents as much as for the students, so I'm sure that it's not taken as seriously as it might sound. I know several students who have cheated on their homework and even though my school is located in a dry county, the campus is swimming...and some of the swimmers are still using water wings, if you catch my meaning ;). Anyway, exams at my school are given in one of two ways: in the classroom during the scheduled period, or outside of class.

When the exam is taken in the classroom, the professor hangs around for a few minutes to explain the exam and allow students to look it over before asking questions. The professor then leaves the room and goes to his/her office where the students can go to ask questions as they arise and eventually turn in their exams. Several of my classmates have asked to use mp3 players during the exam time, and so far none of my professors have had a problem with them doing so. Personally, I'm always nervous to because 1) I don't want to disturb those around me, 2) I don't want to get caught up in the lyrics and neglect my essays, and 3) if the professor walks into the room to announce something, I don't want to miss it.

If the exam is given outside of the class, we are allowed to pick it up at 8am and are usually allowed two hours to take the exam before we are expected to hand it in. We can go anywhere on campus we like (granted, it's a very small campus...we're talking 8 dorms, 5 class buildings, a commons/cafeteria/mailroom/gameroom/bookstore/coffee shop/lounge combo building, and the grounds themselves...but that's still freedom). Personally, when the exam is given outside of class, I head to my room and I'll either put my iPod in my speakers or listen to my music through iTunes. When I had my BIO exams, the professor required that we use one of the computer labs to take it, so I'd pack my iPod in my backpack and start jammin' as soon as I opened up the exam page (we have a program called Educator that lets professors make online tests...it's kinda cool, but it's got a lot of room for computer/user error!)...it really helped cut down on all of the noise from the other students talking away in the lab.

Sorry for the long post...I just wanted to share a little bit of my campus and its methods with you.

I'd be worried about getting caught and wouldn't focus.

I haven't used my iPod during finals, but it is my ritualistic reward for finishing the final! Always listen to some song aobut beeing free (like the Who's "I'm Free" from Tommy, and Jimi Hendrix's "Freedom"

My school leaves it up to the teachers to decide their own poilicy for music in class. Most of my teachers allowed them, even during finals. I usually used them throughout the entire test, sometimes I wouldn't even take them off when I walked in to take my finals. I know of some people who have recorded themselves with study guides, cheat sheets, or even the test answers and listened to it on their iPods. Pretty risky if you ask me.

At my university, listening to your iPod whilst the lecturer was talking and they saw you, you'd get kicked out.

There would be no way we'd be allowed to take your iPod into our finals along with no mobile phones and hats or caps.

This was interesting reading for me both as an iPod user and as a Teaching Assistant. I teach discussion sections and hate it whenever anyone's listening to their iPod or anything else during section.

And as for finals? True, we can't see anything, but it's really not a wise idea to give us any reason to suspect that you're cheating.

For my finals.......noone even dared listen to their iPod/DMP. Listening to music was lumped right in with using a cell phone/calculator etc. and would seriously screw you over.

I simply let my headphones (Koss/UR-15C's) sit around my neck and everything was good

I am always allowed to listen to music after the test! During the test is teacher based, but studies show that listening to stimulating music (and chewing gum for that matter) enhance brain function. I go to a respectable school too!

The only time I ever tried to listen to music while taking an exam was back in high school when I only had a CD player. The teacher in charge told me to put it away - apparently she though I'd recorded notes on it that would help me with my history exam! This was back when barely anyone had a CD burner, and I was actually listening to a commercially pressed disc. Thanks for trusting me so much, Mrs. Dunfield...

Well I actually meant after I was done with the actual testing, but whatever.

mightymouse; hmm.. lets see, to pass? there are idiots out there all over the world who would rather waste energy figuring out ways to cheat, than actually learn the material...

T.

If you want to listen to ur ipod during an exam/class i hav found that the best way is to thread one of the earphones through your sleeve into your cupped hand. Place your hand over your ear and if a teacher comes they will think that you are just restin your head on your hand. If your uber paranoid about getting caught, as the teacher aproaches make your arm vertical so that the wire falls down your sleeve and just take it back out when the teacher leaves ;)

I'm absolutely shocked. I can't imagine any of my exams ever allowing anyone to bring in anything electronic. You're not even allowed to bring in a english (paper) dictionary, (only bilingual ones.)
We're also supposed to put our pens in a clear bag, though this is pretty lax.

But even without that rule, I wouldn't think I'd ever listen to music when doing my exams. Way too distracting.

My question is why would you want to listen to your ipod during a test? Are you really that desperate to hear music? just listen to it some other time

Our teachers are good about it, as they've discovered we stay more focused with music on. And besides, during finals, I usually listen to Bach, Mozart, or anything from freesolopiano.com.

my school would just take it up and u get it back at the end of the period. 1 time it happened to me and on the 3rd time they said i had to pay $15 to get it back with saturday school.

woops, sorry
post deleted

Why is this even being debated? This and every kind of electronics should obviously be banned in class during any kind of test.

I've used it to help me out.

Dang, Ive never even seen people using them in lectures, much less an exam. Profs at Wake Forest would flip out. Of course the big problem at Wake is students using their laptops for purposes other than notes. I never do anything like that because I have enough trouble concentrating. How people can concentrate with music on is beyond me, I zone out in class even when Im not distracted.