Stimulating thinking and problem solving among students: The idea behind exams.

By Dianne Patience,

As the world progresses and information becomes more available to the masses, so do the challenges that society has to solve or contend with. An example of this is the internet revolution where the challenge of sharing information was solved and now information can be shared at the click of a button to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Then came the challenge of data storage with the rise of viruses on the internet. Solutions to the problem came as data recovery methods and cloud storage to save on device storage.

The basic idea behind exams is to present challenges to a student that stimulate thinking and problem solving using already learnt knowledge in class or any other setting that learning takes place. While they may seem punitive, marks reward the effort a student puts in solving the challenge posed in form of a question in an exam. Therefore cramming is discouraged since cramming is just reading and mastering information without fully understanding what one is reading. When one is presented with questions that touch on real life situations requiring real life solutions based on what is learnt in class- commonly known as application questions, the student is bound to get the answers wrong since he or she will give the right answers to the wrong question.

One of the most effective ways to study for an exam is to note the examples that fall under a certain concept and try to relate the example with its application in real life scenarios. That way examples trigger the brain to remember what one learnt without having to strain. This also helps to have a positive attitude towards the exams. Of course, this is in addition to forming study groups and other revision techniques.

Aside from the norm, below are some basic healthy techniques you can always try:

Kazi kwenu.