Shmoop Contemporary Lit: Don't bother, even if you are a literature master

[swalke321]

I tried the "drugs in literature" course and had problems with the test questions. The course material was great but the questions were difficult. After unit 2 I was barely passing, after unit 3 I am slightly under passing. I haven't made it to unit 4. I still have a few more weeks left, I may try the last unit. Though the questions don't seem as ambiguous as some of the other courses.

[Mamasaphire]

I tried the drugs in literature course and had problems with the test questions. The course material was great but the questions were difficult. After unit 2 I was barely passing, after unit 3 I am slightly under passing. I haven't made it to unit 4. I still have a few more weeks left, I may try the last unit. Though the questions don't seem as ambiguous as some of the other courses.

I accidentally read it as

I tried the drugs in the literature course and had problems with the test questions

the first time, and was like, "wait, WHAT?!" milelol:


Of course, my excuse is being a little fuzzy brained now that I'm finally to the end of the Capstone course.

[cookderosa]

I feel/felt your pain. There were MANY questions throughout the History courses that I felt had multiple answers. I'm pretty sure I wrote something about it on this forum. The way they set up their courses and tests for credit is ridiculous to me. I could not wait to finish the 9 History credits and move on from Shmoop forever. It really sucks because the price can't be beat, however the setup is the worst.

That's the problem with online learning. It's not the right approach to simply take classroom content and type it into an online platform - good online providers have people skilled at the difference. Looks like these guys have a learning curve until they catch up with the others in this space.


EDIT to add: I just read the second set of examples. OMG, I'd stab myself in the eye. I took a class in the 90's when I started teaching at the community college. I was required to obtain a teaching credential for the state of Iowa, and in that credential, I needed to take a 2 credit course called "Evaluating" or something like that. Anyway, writing GOOD test questions is hard. That's why I love CLEP questions. These questions have been worked and re-worked by entire groups of subject matter experts AND test-writing experts. They are different skill sets, as Shmoop will probably find once their student success outcome reports have any real sample size.

Thanks for bringing these questions to the forum - VERY helpful!

[KayV]

I really like the concept of Shmoop- low-ish price, unproctored, multiple subject areas- but they do have a lot to work out. I find their material extremely tedious to slog through and rather jaded/ sarcastic/ odd in its presentation.

At the same time, if one has $90 and wants to devote a month to earning up to 65 credits, the price is hard to beat.

[dfrecore]

That's the problem with online learning. It's not the right approach to simply take classroom content and type it into an online platform - good online providers have people skilled at the difference. Looks like these guys have a learning curve until they catch up with the others in this space.


EDIT to add: I just read the second set of examples. OMG, I'd stab myself in the eye. I took a class in the 90's when I started teaching at the community college. I was required to obtain a teaching credential for the state of Iowa, and in that credential, I needed to take a 2 credit course called "Evaluating" or something like that. Anyway, writing GOOD test questions is hard. That's why I love CLEP questions. These questions have been worked and re-worked by entire groups of subject matter experts AND test-writing experts. They are different skill sets, as Shmoop will probably find once their student success outcome reports have any real sample size.

Thanks for bringing these questions to the forum - VERY helpful!

My husband works for a tech company that has their own certs, and the area he works in was coming out with their own cert, and he was on the committee to write the questions. It was a weeklong process, with him and a bunch of other people writing questions, then going over them with a fine-toothed comb to find the problems, then rewriting someone else's questions to try to make them better, over and over again. Although interesting, it was quite a slog. He hasn't offered to do that again...

Sounds like Shmoop needs a better process.

[cookderosa]

My husband works for a tech company that has their own certs, and the area he works in was coming out with their own cert, and he was on the committee to write the questions. It was a weeklong process, with him and a bunch of other people writing questions, then going over them with a fine-toothed comb to find the problems, then rewriting someone else's questions to try to make them better, over and over again. Although interesting, it was quite a slog. He hasn't offered to do that again...

Sounds like Shmoop needs a better process.

if I were guessing, their process is probably a one-man-band. Writing quizzes for your own class isn't enough experience, you have to write the questions for your peers as well as the novice.

[Notgodot]

Just thought I'd do a quick update in regards to my Shmooping literary journey.

For contemporary Lit, I have abandoned the course after failing the first three unit tests. My grade there stands at 50%. I could retake the tests; I've only attempted each once. But honestly, I'd fare no better. Unless I suddenly found a crystal ball.

Yesterday I started Lit in the Media. I just finished the third unit test, and my grade stands at 83%. It's not a cake-walk, but it is perfectly passable with a little diligence. I'd say if you enjoy books and movies, this one is worth your while (so far).

[KayV]

Thank you for these updates, they are really useful. I hope you end up with lots of upper level credit for these.

[Ideas]

Yesterday I started Lit in the Media. I just finished the third unit test, and my grade stands at 83%. It's not a cake-walk, but it is perfectly passable with a little diligence. I'd say if you enjoy books and movies, this one is worth your while (so far).

Thanks! Since this update, have you had experience with any other Lit classes or the U.S. History courses?

[Notgodot]

Thanks! Since this update, have you had experience with any other Lit classes or the U.S. History courses?

I finished all the history courses and all the lit courses except for contemporary lit. Overall I'd say the history courses are more straightforward, but you can't get by on general knowledge. Unit tests ask questions very specific to the unit material, so you'll want to keep tabs open from the unit to go searching for those really specific answers. This is true for all Shmoop courses.