Do you ever ponder the emphasis which teachers and professors place on tests. If we do not do well on the SAT's we are less likely to get into a 4 year school after graduating from high school. If we fail the HSA's, we cannot even receive our diplomas. But here is the interesting thing about all this. How many of us sit down to study what we need to know for our exams about 2 days before the test, and our method--memorization. We simply jam our brain full of information to be stored only for the time it takes us to get through the test. I do it and I am sure most of you do too. I actually had my psychology professor admit to my class last semester that that was too her method of getting through grad school.
So, here I am to ask, what is the point of implementing tests? Theoretically, tests are suppose to be tangible evidence that we have learned something or that we are now proficient in a particular subject or skill, but are we really? How proficient are we if the information escapes just seconds after walking out of your final?
Honestly, I think sometimes that students would get so much more out of their educational experience if states were universal in adopting the philosophy of Social Constructivism. Students need to learn how what they are learning affects them in the real world. I also believe that assigning a semester long paper would be more beneficial than several short exams because it allows the student to analyze the information presented to them in class and apply to their individual experiences. Also, by reading notes, interpreting them, analyzing them and then composing their thoughts on that subject on paper, is a great process to ensure that what they learn will have the potential to be permanent. Just something for you guys to cogitate during finals' week. Good Luck!
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