Joe Podolsky cites Herbert Kohl saying that testing is a fact of modern
life and that students need to learn how to "Game" the tests - and then
they can get on with their education. The trouble is that most often they
don't get on with it because they become virtually totally focused on
their grades, and the tests they take to get those grades, and become so
proficient at getting grades that way, that they lose sight of what
education is about. This is a result of our "system" of assessment of
students. I believe that a systemic change is needed in order to place
the focus where it should be - on learning how to learn. Some educators
are doing this by changing to formative assessments using means other than
tests. My own experience with this approach, limited though it is, tells
me that it is what we should be doing to improve learning. The system,
however, discourages this type of change. However I have great hope for
the future because discussions like this one and others are showing up
more often and in time will have a positive effect. I look forward to
further dialogue in this area.
Michael A. Schwartz
University of Florida
College of Pharmacy
Box 100496, HSC
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone:(352) 392-9145
FAX: (352) 392-7782
E-MAIL: MIKE@COP.HEALTH.UFL.EDU
--"Michael A. Schwartz" <mike@cop.health.ufl.edu>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>