John's Exam Journey Map

1. Developing habits

1.1. Four years and plus before the exam!

1.2. Reinforcement good habits/bad habits

1.3. Developing a study pattern.

1.4. Parental reinforcement/absence/over enforcement

1.5. Peer pressure/conformity

1.6. Distractions

1.6.1. Procrastination

1.7. Self esteem

2. Course outline

2.1. Six weeks before exam

2.2. Planning work

2.2.1. Competition for time and attention from other courses/life events

2.3. As the session progresses, various activities, constraints, obligations may alter the original work plan.

2.4. Connection with Prof

2.5. connection with other students

2.6. creation of teams

2.7. Feedback from quizzes

2.8. Decision to take a course

2.8.1. • by choice • by convenience • by obligation/necessity

2.9. New Idea

3. Exam preparation-Longer term

3.1. Two weeks in advance

3.2. reading text books/articles

3.3. taking notes

3.4. creating crib sheets

3.5. study sessions with other students

3.6. sharing advice on social media

3.7. procrastination

3.8. prioritization

3.9. verification of exam time and place

4. Pain

4.1. In a way, the school years set up the habits and the feelings that are carried by John for the rest of his life. Certain ways of dealing with the pain of not succeeding, as well as his wants and needs, are dealt with by using procrastination. This does not help his self esteem issues.

5. Pain

5.1. As the session progresses, various activities, constraints, obligations alter the original work plan. John can see that he is starting to fall behind in the reading, but the pressure from the amount of work demanded by other courses means that John is 'borrowing' time and effort from this course in order to do the work from others. He underestimates the amount of work that is being pushed aside. As we get closer to stage 3, John starts to see repeating pattern in his study habits.

6. Pain

6.1. Here is where the continued erosion of the planned work schedule has meant that John is obliged to try to catch up with the readings that were not done. As a result concentration is difficult to maintain, especially since the other courses have not let on the demands for his time. In fact the teamwork and the midterm papers are all coming due at the same time.

7. Taking Exam

7.1. Reading questions

7.2. action plan / timing of questions to be answered

7.3. answering questions

7.4. stress-depending on the ability to answer the question

7.5. Immediately after exam

7.5.1. Relief

7.5.2. Relaxation

7.5.3. Brief consultation with other students after exam

7.5.4. Beer

8. Exam preparation-short term

8.1. two days in advance

8.2. Cramming

8.3. study sessions with other students

8.4. increase in anxiety/stress

9. Day of Exam

9.1. Preparation of materials to bring

9.2. Revision of work

9.3. Relaxation techniques

9.4. Early arrival at exam room

9.5. Seating and preparation of exam material

10. Results

10.1. 2-3 weeks after exam

10.2. Review exam

10.3. Reflect on where things went well/ wrong

10.4. Consult with professor

11. Pain

11.1. At this point John is feeling the stress of the exam. Failure to have adequately prepared for the exam is contemplated and intentions are set to stick to a better study plan in preparation for the next exam. The problem arises when the fundamental issues that have been established at the first stage are not addressed and could just end up repeating themselves unless some sort of interaction is taken

12. Pain

12.1. The reflection can go in two directions. One is to revert to how things were done in the past because no action is taken to resolve the problems, in spite of the good intentions in step 4

12.2. Or John can try to improve his odds by changing his habits, either through self exertion or through getting help through student counselling.

13. Affirmative action taken