Vertebrate Zoology: Exam. Bioecology: Graded Test. How It Will Work

Dear second-year students!
The exam session is approaching; it is clear that it will take place under quarantine restrictions. After consulting with my colleagues, I can announce how the vertebrate zoology exam and the bioecology graded test will be conducted.
I want to apologize for the fact that the "rules of the game" I announced at the beginning of the course will not be followed in full. These rules were designed for in-person classes in a way that maximally encourages student activity during normal university operations. They are not suited to the current remote-learning situation. The priorities underlying these rules have remained the same, but the learning conditions have changed, and as a result some of the requirements and the distribution of marks have changed.
So, the grade in vertebrate zoology consisted of 10 components corresponding to three types of work:
1) oral topic submissions to the practical-class instructors;
2) tests;
3) written answers to open-ended questions on the exam.
You are submitting topics remotely; those grades remain an adequate measure of your progress. However, I believe that test results and written-work results will not be trustworthy. Those of you who complete them independently may lose out to more resourceful classmates; I would not want the grade to measure anything other than your academic achievement.
The same applies to the bioecology graded test: under normal conditions the grade consisted primarily of test results (which, in my view, it is not advisable to run remotely) and a participation grade (which remains adequate and can therefore be given greater weight).
The questions for both courses were communicated to you at the beginning of the semester; for vertebrate zoology they are posted here, and for bioecology — here. The vertebrate zoology exam and the bioecology graded test will be based on exactly these questions.
At the time appointed by the dean's office, you connect with me on Zoom (we will determine the details closer to the date). Using a random-number generator in a spreadsheet, I will assign your ticket numbers and send each of you your ticket. Within a set time (no more than one and a half hours) you must send me NOTES for your answer to the question. The notes can be typed as an electronic text or written by hand and photographed; if necessary you can draw a diagram, photograph it, and attach it to the text. While preparing you may use any printed or electronic sources, but the notes for your answer you must write yourself. If copy-paste or any other form of using someone else's text instead of your own is detected, you will receive a grade of 0 for all questions of the exam or graded test. After that we will speak on Zoom. I (or other instructors) will ask you clarifying questions about your answer. Based on that conversation you will receive a grade. Your grade will be determined by how well you can explain what you wrote and how logically you structure your answer notes.
To assure you that the grade you receive will reflect your actual command of the material and nothing else, our Zoom conversation will be video-recorded. I know some of you personally, others I do not; so please have your passport ready during the conversation so that you can show it to me through the camera.
I am being asked what those of you who are in places without internet access should do. I am sorry, but I consider such cases analogous to being unable to attend an exam during normal, non-remote study. In that case you will not be able to pass these subjects, and you will have an outstanding debt that you will complete later — either remotely in the manner described, or in person when that becomes possible.
The marks will be distributed as follows.
Vertebrate Zoology:
Topic I. Lower chordates; topic submission to the practical instructor — 12 marks.
Topic II. Fish; topic submission to the practical instructor — 16 marks.
Topic III. Reptiles; topic submission to the practical instructor — 16 marks.
Topic IV. Birds; topic submission to the practical instructor — 16 marks.
Exam:
Topic IV. Mammals; topic submission to the practical instructor — 16 marks.
Mammals question (Zoom discussion) — 10 marks.
Synthesis question (Zoom discussion) — 14 marks.
The requirements for topic submissions are set by the practical instructors. You do not need your lab notebooks for the exam questions. If you have submitted all topics, you answer only two questions. If you have not submitted some topics — you answer the questions corresponding to those topics. If you have not submitted the Mammals topic to your practical instructor, you will discuss it in more detail with me. If you wish to improve the grade you received for a particular topic during the semester, you may inform me when you receive your ticket at the exam; I will cancel the grade given by the practical instructor and record the grade I assign during our Zoom discussion of your answer.
Important addition: if you took the exam on Zoom and did not pass, the marks you earned during the semester are cancelled. During the resit you will answer all 6 questions.
Bioecology:
Each topic carries an equal number of marks (25 each). These topics were covered to varying degrees in seminars. The seminar instructors may award a certain number of marks.
Section I. Biosystems. Biosphere — 25 marks (all — for the graded test).
Section II. Biogeocenoses. Communities. Populations — 25 marks. Seminar instructors may award up to 25 marks.
Section III. Organisms and Environment — 25 marks. Seminar instructors may award up to 25 marks.
Section IV. Humanity — 25 marks. Seminar instructors may award up to 10 marks.
Thus, 40 marks remain for the graded test. You may either keep your seminar instructor's grade (and answer only the first and fourth questions), or notify me in advance and also answer the second and third questions. Before you receive your ticket, we discuss which questions you will answer.
Important addition: if you took the graded test on Zoom and did not pass, the marks you earned during the semester are cancelled. During the resit you will answer all 4 questions — 25 marks each.
All calculations for both courses I will conduct in a Google spreadsheet that will be open for editing by instructors and for viewing by students (i.e., by everyone who has the link).
I am ready to answer your questions about this procedure. Pre-exam consultations will also be conducted through open online responses to your questions.
With hope for your successful exam and graded test,
Professor of the Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Shabanov Dmytro Andriiovych
UPD: a link https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1N7yXSpTUs77Vr4RLfWOc__cM1Jn6Z0frsCVH4l3qhfQ/edit?usp=sharing to the grade file has been provided. Teachers can edit this file, and students can read and comment. The bioecology graded-test schedule is as follows:

To join the Zoom chat where the graded test will take place, you will need to register in advance for the programme, and at the scheduled time join the Zoom chat whose link will appear in the grade file. Emergency announcements (for example, if a Zoom session ends and you need to join a new one) will also appear in that file!