Mind Sweeper

It occurs when the next test question in the sequence sends an over-charged mental synapse through your brain, causing a brown-out.  Suddenly everything disappears, you can’t remember a thing, the course name, your name or anything that was only moments ago written on the chalkboard.

It isn’t you.  Some test questions are designed to do just that.  It is a combination of syntax, word choice and the mental frequency of the words themselves as you say them to yourself.  It has been a long-practiced technique by some German educators to force any borderline students to either push through the fog or to give up. 

It has been banned at many universities here in the States, who have said it causes undue stress.  One report suggested it was stopped by court ruling, although I have found no evidence of such a court case.  

Reference to mind sweeper examples can be found when reading B.F. Skinner’s book, Crossed-Eyed Pupils.

 

 

 

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