In lieu of a traditional final exam, Angie Walston found a way to connect with her students on a deeper level — via Zoom — while virtual last spring. The alternative was so impactful that she hopes to make it a more permanent part of her courses.

BY NANCY FOWLER

As Angie Walston, program coordinator of Human Development and Family Studies, looked for a way to revamp her final exam this past spring, she envisioned a temporary solution. But her pandemic fix may become a permanent fixture.

In past semesters, the final for her Human Development throughout the Lifespan course has been a group project. But Walston couldn’t imagine how that might work over Zoom.

“I couldn’t do the equivalent of walking around the room and checking in on students individually and understanding where they were,” Walston said.

She came up with the idea of conducting individual exit interviews during one-on-one Zoom sessions. Students picked from a list of topics including imagining themselves as middle-aged. Then they signed up for a slot and prepared for their sessions. Walston allowed students to look at their notes. Correctly using at least eight terms or theories and the inclusion of a personal story were the keys to an exceptional score.

Several spoke about the pain of watching a beloved grandparent struggle with Alzheimer’s. “Some would say, ‘I wouldn’t have shared this with the class, but I’m comfortable sharing it here with just you and I,’” Walston said. “And at that moment, I realized how powerful it was.”

The conversations also provided important feedback about her instruction. One student confided he was worried about working in a group during the time when the class was still meeting in person, and that he almost dropped the course. But buoyed by her support, he ended up finding the group work beneficial. Another, who barely spoke in class, told Walston, “I was listening the whole time.”

Students enrolled in Walston’s Psyc 254 course this fall will have the chance to vote on whether their final will consist of an exit interview or a take-home exam. With 60 total students now in two classes versus only 18 last spring, Walston estimates she’ll spend more than 80 hours over two weeks if they choose the interview option.

“I am willing to find ways to make that happen,” Walston said. “I’m excited about how I can continue to use these strategies.”