tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088188498900558941.post8474592970195657162..comments2023-06-25T04:10:55.573-04:00Comments on Demand EUPHORIA: Teaching Everyone Some Terrible Stuff (TESTS), Part IVickie@Demand_Euphoriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17706946767924290485noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088188498900558941.post-4560377524683398882013-07-26T17:10:34.589-04:002013-07-26T17:10:34.589-04:00I agree with this so well....I'm in the comput...I agree with this so well....I'm in the computer world. I'm in tech support actually....if we don't know something we will pull up google faster than you can blink. But in order to get a good job....we have to take MASSIVE certification tests, and to me they are stupid, I learn better by DOING the work, so yea I can read a book, study answers and ace that stupid $175 test....but did I learn anything, maybe 1 or 2.<br /><br />Now get me out there in the technical world and through trial and error, asking questions, being shown how to do something....I will learn massive amount of information very quickly and retain it a lot longer.<br /><br />I hate tests.Modern Day Helpmeethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13402270971584943556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088188498900558941.post-90481098387252962522011-04-17T08:05:42.436-04:002011-04-17T08:05:42.436-04:00@KarenKTeachCamb, You got to *choose* to take the ...@KarenKTeachCamb, You got to *choose* to take the driver's test, right? There are many adults out there who choose not to drive. So that is completely different.<br /><br />Learning does not require assessment. My young children are learning everyday (without school). I can tell without testing them. I learn everyday (without school). I can tell without being tested.<br /><br />I can honestly say I have never thought about my doctor's elementary school experience as being important. I'm sure there are doctors out there who did very poorly in elementary school. I think that getting through medical school and showing competency at being a doctor are more important. That is why I ask for referrals when I want to choose a doctor, not to see their report cards from elementary school.<br /><br />And there may be "a place" for testing. But I don't believe tests should be central in a child's life for 13 years. Kids are way too stressed. And I blame our excessive "testing culture" for a lot of it.Vickie@Demand_Euphoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706946767924290485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088188498900558941.post-90763689307384915572011-04-17T07:37:24.498-04:002011-04-17T07:37:24.498-04:00Taking a theory test for a driver's license! A...Taking a theory test for a driver's license! About 4 1/2 years ago. Testing is not only about how much you get right. Good teachers also use tests to inform future instruction. Yes, we get a feel for some of the students' knowledge levels without testing, but the tests often highlight areas we have missed that may well be vital for a student's future understanding of a concept. Yes, there are lots of other ways to assess student learning, and good teachers use them too! Don't write off the humble "test". <br /><br />Having said all that, I wish I could somehow have my students realise that if they don't tell me they don't understand something, I can't always tell, especially if they are copying work from others. All these things are cultural to some extent. It's losing face to say you don't know something, so it's better to copy what the next person is doing than risk losing face. Unfortunately the person next to you may well have it wrong, and then it doesn't help either of you. Oh, the joys of teaching. <br /><br />@ Vickie, I'm not familiar with student-directed learning, but am familiar with student-centred learning. All learning requires assessment in some form or another. It may just be observation, it may be an oral presentation, it might be a poster or model or other form of demonstration of knowedge, or even, dare I say it, a test. Would you like your life to be in the hands of a nurse or doctor who relies on someone else to calculate the dose of your medication for you because their math skills weren't "tested" in elementary school? I didn't think so. There is a place for testing!KarenKTeachCambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18360213423837201954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088188498900558941.post-53579213526671336692011-04-06T10:00:37.665-04:002011-04-06T10:00:37.665-04:00@AHolliday, Thanks for your comment. The thing abo...@AHolliday, Thanks for your comment. The thing about student-directed learning is that it really eliminates the need for testing. Instead it requires trust in each child that he is learning what he has decided he needs to learn. There is no need to make them prove it.Vickie@Demand_Euphoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17706946767924290485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088188498900558941.post-39582372859242928782011-04-05T23:31:38.417-04:002011-04-05T23:31:38.417-04:00This is a really interesting post. I am a big prop...This is a really interesting post. I am a big proponent of student directed learning - of which learning to advocate and adapt is essential. I always come back to the question of what to do about the kid(s) who doesn't really need help with the material from a skill perspective rather he/she did not prepare or manage their time effectively so they are faced with a test or assessment that they are not prepared for b/b they did not invest the necessary effort in prepararation.AHollidayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08541736171008076691noreply@blogger.com