Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Into My Head
Why does evaluation often seem like a crap shoot? The other day a student came in during lunch to write a quiz she had missed. I was getting her quiz questions out when she said "Wait! I have to get this back into my head!" as she quickly flipped through her notes. The information needed for the quiz had been reviewed in class. She had all of this. But now it seemed she knew almost nothing, as if it was a matter of cramming some information at the last minute so she could remember bits of information enough to pass the quiz. Is most of what we do in quizzes and tests "getting it into my head" long enough to pass and then it's gone again?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sadly, that is the truth in today's education. Students cram and memorize just to past a test or quiz because of their fear in failing. This is there survival mechanism. Students don't spend enough time learning the material on a deeper level and will eventually forget the material. Could this also be that the course load for students is too demanding, which can impact on their learning and studying? Could it be that what the student is taking is mandatory and not necessary lies in their interest? This might be some reasons who student merely survive rather than thrive.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kenneth. My personal experience with quizzes, tests, and exams has often been a kind of "write and wipe." I review my notes and readings right before the assessment so that I can go in and complete it, but probably about 5 minutes after writing the test or exam most of the information is wiped from my mind. Part of this is because there is often another exam to then turn my attention too. It is too difficult to try to remember everything from every class that I have to take. I know that much of my learning in secondary and post-secondary education has not been deep or meaningful learning. If I think back to these classes, what did I learn? I honestly, for the most part, don't remember. What I remember most is the stuff that I was actually interested in...books! I can literally remember every novel or play that I had to read in each class and what books I wrote essays about, but if I was asked what facts or ideas the classes revolved around, I would draw a blank. This makes me think that students are not being engaged and actively involved in learning. If teachers were to focus on interesting and engaging students in learning, the learning and comprehension would be much deeper and more enriching. As Kenneth mentioned before, students should be doing much more than surviving.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't feel that quizzes are an effective mode of assessment. My personal experience is that generally speaking a sense of: anxiety, nervousness, pressure of possible failure and a focus on grades / passing are all factors that cloud this experience. It is true that for the majority the quiz experience is definitely about "getting information in your head." Your focus is shifted from learning to regurgitating mere facts and points as per the textbook material. I believe a more accurate way to asses for understanding would ideally be the notion of open ended assessment. Where students are enabled to express their understanding, knowledge and application in the mode which they feel most comfortable whether it be: writing and essay, art, drama , music etc. In most cases students when approaching a quiz don't express their true potential in response to their learning. What is exhibited is a students ability to memorize facts or to answer in the standardized mode of evaluation. And it is very true that shortly there after the information that was "memorized" for the sake of passing the quiz. Is usually never retained or remembered shortly after.
ReplyDelete- Nadea Clarke
I personally don't feel that quizzes are an effective mode of assessment. My personal experience is that generally speaking a sense of: anxiety, nervousness, pressure of possible failure and a focus on grades / passing are all factors that cloud this experience. It is true that for the majority the quiz experience is definitely about "getting information in your head." Your focus is shifted from learning to regurgitating mere facts and points as per the textbook material. I believe a more accurate way to asses for understanding would ideally be the notion of open ended assessment. Where students are enabled to express their understanding, knowledge and application in the mode which they feel most comfortable whether it be: writing and essay, art, drama , music etc. In most cases students when approaching a quiz don't express their true potential in response to their learning. What is exhibited is a students ability to memorize facts or to answer in the standardized mode of evaluation. And it is very true that shortly there after the information that was "memorized" for the sake of passing the quiz. Is usually never retained or remembered shortly after.
ReplyDelete- Nadea Clarke