Using Other Technologies to Help Pass Your CLEP’s

By Kevin Scritchfield

The Learning Network and the practice tests included with some of the test prep books are great resources to use in preparation for your subject-specific CLEP tests, but don’t overlook some other tools out there that are available for free (or close to it).

Now, fair warning here: I happen to be an Apple diehard. I worked my way through college using PC’s and when I saw my first Mac (when it came out in 1984), I told myself that I would never use a PC again and for the most part I’ve been able to stick by that. I currently teach in a Mac lab with 28 iMacs, MacPros, and Apple G5‘s and my family has numerous iPods, iMacs, and iPads along with my MacBook Pro. So, if you happen to own an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (or maybe you even won an iPad from CollegePlus!), then don’t discount how useful this tool can be for you in your study time. If you don’t own one of those particular devices, then I’m sure there are ways to use these tips with other devices also.

First of all, of course there is the App Store. If you search the iTunes App Store for a particular subject area you may be pleasantly surprised at what pops up! For example, while my kids have been studying for their Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP, we found a great App called, “Literary Analysis Guide” and it contains a ton of information that matches up with the other study materials for this particular CLEP. It’s available for the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. My kids said that it was very helpful for their studies. Search the App Store for the subject area of the CLEP that you are currently studying for and see what comes up!

If you are studying for a CLEP that has a bunch of vocabulary terms involved with it, then flash cards are always a helpful study tool. The flashcard App I prefer is called gFlash+ because it allows you to transfer any two-column spreadsheet of information that you have contained in a Google Doc spreadsheet into it. If you are not using Google Docs then you are missing out on an amazing free tool that, as of November 17th, allows you to edit your Google Docs on your iPad, iPhone or Touch. So anywhere that you have internet access, you have access to your documents. The fact that gFlash+ allows import from Google Docs means that you can search the web for the hundreds of free flash card web sites (people make literally thousands of sets of flash cards for every subject area you can think of and then they put them on these web sites to share with the world) and then copy and paste the information into a Google Doc spreadsheet. The site that we have used is Flashcard Exchange. gflash+ then allows you to download it directly into the free App from your Google Docs account. Now when you are waiting in line somewhere or riding in the car or whenever you have some down time, you can whip out your Touch or iPad and be reviewing your flash cards! This one became VERY handy for the Natural Sciences CLEP for my kids. There are a ton of sets of flash cards out there - just search for “Natural Science CLEP” and see what comes up! Here is a link to a site that outlines how to work with gFlash and Google Docs

Finally, my son just found out that to start his degree in music, he needs to take a Music Theory test. For something like this topic that is a little more specific in its nature, I suggested to him to look on iTunesU for introductory college classes in Music Theory so that he could listen to these lectures when he is done with the rest of his studies or when we are riding in the car or whenever else he can work it into his day. If you are not familiar with iTunesU it is part of the free iTunes Store that allows you to watch or listen to thousands of college-level courses from many major universities across the country including Stanford, MIT, Yale, Wesleyan University, and hundreds of others. Using this to study for something like the Natural Sciences CLEP would be too broad of a subject area as you would have to listen to a whole semester of biology and chemistry and geology and so on. But for this music theory course, my son has his choice of several high-quality courses and for the most part, what is covered in Music Theory I is the same wherever you take it. Along this same line, you could also find many podcasts on differing subject areas as well.

As you prepare for your CLEPS, think outside the box in terms of some other technologies that may help you in the unique way that you study for test and retain information. Please feel free to add any comments on similar things that you have found to help you study!

Kevin Scritchfield has an AA Degree in Bible and Theology, a BA in Math, and an MA in Teaching and has been a public high school teacher for 25 years with the last 15 at his own Alma Mater, Sierra High School, located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. He has been married to his lovely bride for 28 years and has a 16 year-old daughter and 14 year-old son - both currently working on their degrees through CollegePlus!

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3 comments so far - Leave a comment below

Great post. Technology should drive education in the future, pushing the bounds of learning to new heights.

— Matthew Tuesday, December 7, 2010 11:08 AM CST

Love the iTunes idea. Good stuff. Thanks Kevin and College Plus for the info. Merry Christmas!!!

— Trey Tuesday, December 7, 2010 1:21 PM CST

Thanks for the tip on iTunesU. Kudos to Apple for making these college courses available.

— William Hurst Wednesday, December 8, 2010 12:10 PM CST

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