By: Prof. Sarah J. Schendel
The challenges faced by this year’s Bar takers cannot be overstated. Among concerns for health, well-being, social justice, upcoming elections, and the economy, many Bar takers have also faced an unexpected shift to an online Bar exam.
For those of us who teach test-taking and academic support skills, the shift was also unnerving! So many of the techniques we rely upon ourselves, and teach students, have to do with paper: note-taking by hand, highlighting, and underlining. It’s time for all of us to learn some new tricks.
Whether because of classes shifting online, unexpected school closures, choosing to take a hybrid course, or the decisions of professors and Bar examiners, shifting from reading casebooks in print to doing your reading online is a new skill, but it’s one you can master.
First, acknowledge your discomfort. If reading your course or test materials online is not your preference, or is outside of your comfort zone, take a minute to acknowledge that.[1] Don’t fight it, don’t complain, just take a moment to acknowledge this is new, or unwelcome, or confusing, or anxiety producing. Being uncomfortable is ok, it is part of learning, and attempts to just ignore it or push past it might bubble up later. Take a deep breath, and tell yourself: this is new, this is a challenge, and I can do this.
Next: slow down! Studies have shown that reading on a screen seems to encourage skimming: “when we scroll, we tend to read more quickly (and less deeply) than when we move sequentially from page to page.”[2] This seems to be in part because reading online can feel overwhelming, like there is a never-ending stream of information and sources. As with all studying, your efficacy will improve when you give yourself context. Before you dive into that never-ending stream of information, check your syllabus (or your Bar prep program) and remind yourself of your goal – is this your introduction to offer and acceptance? Is this an extension of what you have already learned about Equal Protection? Are you seeking clarity on a particular idea? Giving yourself this context is always helpful for effective reading, and even more so when you’re jumping into reading online without a clear end point.
Create sign posts for yourself. How can you create structure and guidance for your task? If you’re reading a 20-page assignment on a screen, can you draw random check marks or highlight stopping points every few pages, to force yourself to pause? On screen, people tend to “browse and scan, to look for keywords, and to read in a less linear, more selective fashion…the more we read online, the more likely we were to move quickly, without stopping to ponder any one thought.”[3] If you can build in some resting places for yourself, this can help counteract the tendency to skim, and can build in room to ponder, reflect, and absorb.
Take breaks from the screen. If you’re a fan of the Pomodoro Technique,[4] try 25 min of reading on a screen, followed by closing the laptop or turning away from the monitor, and spending your next chunk of time doing something by hand – trying to summarize what you just read, writing questions you have after your reading, doing problems you have printed out, etc. Reading on a screen can mean that your eyes grow fatigued more quickly as a result of shifting screens, layouts, colors, and contrasts.[5] Give your eyes a break, and give yourself the opportunity to put the reading into your own words or quiz yourself – a key step in learning.
Now, about exams. If you will be taking an exam entirely online, the first step is to find out as much as possible, as soon as possible. These questions might include whether you will have access to any materials not on the screen (hand written notes, books, etc.), whether the software will allow you to copy and paste or highlight, and whether you are allowed to have two screens. Finding out as much as you can, as soon as you can, will help in two ways: it may calm your nerves to have answers, and it also will allow you to practice in a way that mimics the exam environment.
Many Bar takers have been told that they will not be allowed to take hand written notes, and that while the computer program may allow to highlight the fact pattern or question while they read, they will not be permitted to copy and paste during the MPT or MEEs.[6] This is tough for MEEs and MPTs and essay exams generally. Remind yourself of the basics: read the call of the question first to orient yourself before diving into the fact pattern. Type key dates, names, and facts as you read them. You have probably been told (whether for the Bar or exam essays in class) that one-third of the time you have for the problem should be used to read and re-read – this remains true when the exam is online. Try a few different approaches while studying: do you like to read the question once without taking any typed notes, and then take notes on re-read? Do you find that you have to take notes the first time in order to pay attention? Figure out what works best for you.
I recently saw these words, and loved them: “[r]eading is a bridge to thought.”[7] Whether on the page, or on the screen, reading your class and exam materials is a bridge to deeper understanding and imagination. It is an opportunity to learn, to ponder, to challenge to the way you think, and the chance to gain a new perspective. Reading class materials and taking tests online can be a challenge, but, like all study skills in law school, you can improve. Be honest with yourself about what’s working and what’s not, and be open to trying something new.
[1] This article will not address any accommodations or ADA issues. This omission is not intended to discount these issues but, rather, the author understands they are incredibly important and cannot be touched upon in this brief piece. If you have (or suspect you may have) processing issues or need accommodations around digital text, in class note-taking, and test-taking reach out to your Dean of Students office as soon as possible to discuss these issues with a pro.
[2] Being a Better Online Reader | The New Yorker, , https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/being-a-better-online-reader (last visited Sep 8, 2020).
[3] Id.
[4] The Pomodoro Technique 101, https://lifehacker.com/productivity-101-a-primer-to-the-pomodoro-technique-1598992730 (last visited Sep 8, 2020).
[5] Being a Better Online Reader | The New Yorker, , https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/being-a-better-online-reader (last visited Sep 8, 2020).
[6] Taking the MEE Online, The Activist Guide to Passing the Bar Exam (2020), https://passingthebar.blog/2020/08/03/doing-the-mee-online/ (last visited Sep 8, 2020).
[7] Being a Better Online Reader | The New Yorker, , https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/being-a-better-online-reader (last visited Sep 8, 2020).