Well, we had our first practical exams this past week. A practical exam is an exam where the students have to not only answer questions orally but they must also show manual skills they have learned in class. There is no doubt about it, these are very stressful tests and I have seen many a student fall to pieces because of the amount of stress. On the flip side, the practical exams are a great place for learning. We are often able to find out if students really understand a concept or if they are able to articulate their knowledge or show that they have mastered a skill...this is all, of course, depending on whether they can get passed the stress thing.
I really get a charge out of when a student can make sense out of signs and symptoms and make great choices and then show me they have been practicing by nailing a manual skill. While most students get pretty nervous the large majority of those that spend the time studying and practicing really do well. I often tell students that if they work hard, more than likely things will work out...a pretty good lesson for most things in life.
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