Today I took my final exam in my stats class. It was, yet again, a timed assessment. I had to take it on my computer, and I folded a large piece of paper and placed it across the top of the computer screen to cover up the ticking time clock to reduce the anxiety as I was taking the test. This whole experience taught me such a valuable lesson about the stress of being assessed in a timed setting. I literally worked the entire 90 minutes without ceasing. Even though I could not see the time ticking down, I became increasingly more anxious as the minutes and seconds ticked away. I barely finished and didnt have time to go back and check any of my work. I really cant describe how frustrated I was at the end of this ordeal. I was literally physically ill from the stress. I have continually reflected upon this, and I have been thinking about the boys and girls that I had in my classes for many years who had to endure these assessments. Not very often, but yes, we used them from time to time. This is my theory: If a student is a strong writer, a timed writing assessment probably wont send him/her over the edge. If a student is a decent math student, a timed math assessment wont necessarily make him/her frantic (like this old red-headed girl over here was for her stats test). BUT, when a student struggles in that area, and he/she has prepared and seriously wants to do his/her best, a timed assessment is not likely to reflect his/her knowledge/understanding of the content. Dont worry, Im thrilled to be finished with this blasted stats class. It is my last one. In. My. Life!!! I did email my teacher and shared my thoughts with him about this matter. Im sure he got a good laugh about this old red-headed grandma. Even though I was unable to really demonstrate my understanding of the content on this test, what I did learn was much more applicable to what I do every day. I learned, from a very personal point of view, that demonstrating understanding of content looks different for individual students. And this lesson will be MUCH more applicable to what I do every single day, and that is to support teachers and principals in meeting the needs of all children, one by one. All means ALL...
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 01:13:43 +0000
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