Reflective Blog: Testing the Only Way?

Retrieved from http://literacyminute.blogspot.com/

In my Grand Canyon University class, TEC 538:  Learning in the Digital Age, we've been give a 4th and final task to answer the following question:

Reflect on the idea that tests are the only objective assessments of student learning.

Here is my response: ABSOLUTELY NOT! But let's define the word "test".  

A Google inquiry reveals that a "test" is "a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use." But what I tend to see in education as a test being the end all, be all to a student's academic journey which happens to determine whether or not a school is doing it's job or not.  It's been given a lot of debate and have returned a lot of stress to both students, teachers, administrators, and parents.  

I like to think that there is really no end-of-the-line assessment, just a record of what you know so you can build your skills to perfection later. I also believe in alternative assessments in conjunction with a test to show hidden trends and areas no seen on a test, whether it be standardized or teacher-created.

A group of colleagues and myself created this wonderful e-Book to highlight several assessment tools that can be used either formative, summative, or as a diagnostic.  Some of these tools can be used more than one way and I would caution any educator to look into each tool first to determine it is right for the situation.

25+ Assessment Tools For Learning (e-Book)