NO TESTS!

If you know me as a teacher, you know that I do not give "tests/exams" in the traditional tests/exams format unless I am forced to by a school/state/government/etc. This is also outlined in my published Teaching Philosophy: https://sites.google.com/view/briancraigsteinberg/our-staff?authuser=0 

This past week, I did a learning assessment based on an Earth Science Lab (Cookie Geology Lab) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WRkv7kdhwFiZCzl0vKfKWZA5rDG_9JJ9/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111632607710945911394&rtpof=true&sd=true 



I learned this assessment technique from the CLAS Testing Center when I was an undergraduate student at Central Michigan University (1991-1995). At the CLAS Testing Center, for some tests/quizzes, students were allowed to take the same test or a similar test with random questions from a question pool as many times as they want until they were happy with their grade. I often would take the test/quiz right away without studying to see where I am at. I then went back to my room and studied some more and re-took the test/quiz. If I was not happy with my grade, I went back and studied more and so on. I learned more this way than cramming for one big test, only to forget most of the material a week later. 

Given recent AI (Artificial Intelligence) advancements, we moved out of the Knowledge base and into the Creation and Application Phase. We must learn how to apply all knowledge. That is the challenge! 


This reminds me of the Indiana Jones movie: The Kingdom of the Crystal Scull.

"Where did they go? Space?

Not into space.

Into the space between spaces.

I don't understand.

Why this legend of a city of gold?

The Ugha word for gold

translates as "treasure."

But their treasure wasn't gold.

It was knowledge.

Knowledge was their treasure."



Knowledge might be the treasure, by how we apply the knowledge is the ultimate goal!