Student Assessments - tests vs projects
What was your reaction when you arrived at class and found out we had a written midterm?
After taking the midterm how did you feel? What was the impact you knowing it was not going to be collected at the end of class?
A teacher's perspective: Is Dr. Foreman going to be able to assess what you know about learning behaviors? How does a test work on student's ability to encode the information into memory?
posted by Teri @ 1:47 PM
7 Comments:
My mind was blank. I had not prepared for a test. The jeopardy questions touched on specifics but I did not feel I had a good enough grasp on the theories and concepts. They were jumbled not connected. When I took the test I was amazed at how much I did know. I answered all but 3 questions and only had two that were not completely accurate. If I had planned for a test, I would have worked to encode more of the information and felt more relaxed at taking the test.
Although we want students to be able to process what we are teaching and apply it to real life, I can see some advantages to giving tests. A student is forced to memorize information that they will need to recall in the future. The writing assignments we are doing in the class helps us applying the knowledge but without the memorization we may have trouble remembering what theories are available for us to use to resolve a problem in the future.
I felt similarly to you, Teri. I was a bit shocked when I found out we were being given a written exam, and was similarly amazed at how much I remembered when I wrote my answers down. The part that stumped me was the true/false section, as I have a habit of reading too much into these sorts of questions.
I found that doing the Jeopardy questions was fun, challenging, and helpful. Rather than asking purely fact-based questions, I tried to apply what I knew by giving scenarios. In going through that process, I think I was forced to "encode" the information I was learning into memory.
How about if I give you another test next week? The same one. Be prepared...
You don't want to know what I felt/thought when I arrived in class to be "blind-sided" by a test. (smile - kidding)
I don't think tests really work. Period. Hence, SATs being re-thought. Does a test REALLY reveal what a person can do or perform in the real world? Or is it merely a temporary recall of recent events?
Hands on doing, as we all know, is the best form of learning. And even THAT is subject to forgetfulness if one does not perform the tasks on a regular basis - the exception being "riding a bike." But in terms of things like Flash, I've found that unless I create projects regularly in the program, I forget a lot of the inner workings of the tool.
Just my two cents.
I thought that the jeopardy questions was the test. It was a great review for me and I was able to complete the quiz . However a test is just a small part of our grade. I think the project will reflect what you have learned and how you can apply the theories.
If you have time read chapter 12 it is short and it talk about creating your own theories about learning theories
I think the reviewing for the test us more useful than the test. You prepare and that is when retrieval provides measured results.
Sometimes the threat of tests becomes more like a terror alert warning, where you just live in a state of fear.
Lee
I would agree with the jeapardy questions as a good review. I had in mind we might even play a jeapardy game as a group to answer questions so that the whole group can support each other and share information...
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