Are exams an inadequate way of testing students? (computer science, skills, degree)

[Rawkfist]

I feel that they are. I am in college and have an excellent GPA. However, I think tests are a huge waste of time. I spend all of our time preparing for exams, when I could be indulging myself in learning the material, just for the sake of learning it, and just because I enjoy it, not because I have to pass some 1 hour exam.

For example, I love learning about economics, but I can't actually learn anything about economics because I have to spend all my time preparing for exams. What happened to learning for the sake of learning?

Also, many exams have certain logical "tricks", esp multiple choice, that you can get the right answer without knowing the material at all.

So, I say we do away with exams What do you all think?

[Tiickled]

I believe they are necessary. I actually like testing. My reasoning is if you can't answer basic questions about what you have been learning for a reasonable amount of time you have not really learned anything.

[joe from dayton]

Originally Posted by Rawkfist

I feel that they are. I am in college and have an excellent GPA. However, I think tests are a huge waste of time. I spend all of our time preparing for exams, when I could be indulging myself in learning the material, just for the sake of learning it, and just because I enjoy it, not because I have to pass some 1 hour exam.

For example, I love learning about economics, but I can't actually learn anything about economics because I have to spend all my time preparing for exams. What happened to learning for the sake of learning?

Also, many exams have certain logical "tricks", esp multiple choice, that you can get the right answer without knowing the material at all.

So, I say we do away with exams What do you all think?

Then I would say that you are the exception. Exams are the only way to get most students to even look at their text books.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by Rawkfist

I spend all of our time preparing for exams, when I could be indulging myself in learning the material, just for the sake of learning it

Wait, I'm confused. Aren't you, in the process of learning the material, also preparing for a test on that material? Aren't tests often just on the material you've learned? I don't understand why learning and prepping for a test are mutually exclusive.

[ryanst530]

Testing students is an effective way of measuring their critical thinking, time management, and resourcefulness skills. It is a way of 'certifying', if you will, a student's ability to solve problems independently and in a reasonable amount of time.

These things sound like a "waste of time" to you now, but when employers start to look for you, they will expect you to possess these essential skills. And believe me... you will use them on a daily basis at work.

[Cav Scout wife]

Originally Posted by tiickled

i believe they are necessary. I actually like testing. My reasoning is if you can't answer basic questions about what you have been learning for a reasonable amount of time you have not really learned anything.

+1

[scorpio516]

I've had a number of classes that had no exams. Whether these were art studio classes, or culminated with a thesis was up to the design of the class.

Maybe if you don't like exams, you should go to art school? But be warned, you'll still have exams for GE and art history classes.

[seattlenextyear]

I use mixed assessments in my class. Exams to test your basic knowledge (have you read the textbook, do you know the terms, etc.). Essays and other assignments to evaluate critical thinking skills and to provide an opportunity for students explore some of the topics in more depth.

Unfortunately, grading based exclusively on multiple choice exams are almost a necessity in large classes.

There are some colleges that don't have exams and grades, just credit. Evergreen in Washington State uses the portfolio method. There was a college in NC that also followed that model, but I can't recall the name.

[felinius]

Some areas of study really shouldn't be having scantron tests and exams, but final projects/group projects/ essays/papers/etc. For example, computer science classes and related areas should have projects to show knowledge in the course.

Other areas of study there's no real other way to test knowledge. Some of the basic biology classes had no other way to test that the students knew the information that they were being taught.

"What happened to learning for the sake of learning?"
That's called a credit/no credit or just a no-credit class.

[BuffaloTransplant]

Speaking from the point of a retired teacher went to both a college and university and taught almost 30 years in public schools:

-Multiple choice tests are useless. You can simply guess, unless it is one where an incorrect answer gets more points taken off than no answer at all.
-Essays during a test are worthwhile if you can write quickly.
-Math tests where you need to show your work are very valid.
-Final exams will never disappear as long as administration gets their way.

Personally, I liked to assign actual papers that made students use both text and research. It gave me a better insight into their thought process; I could also really tell if they did the work -- based on what I saw in class writing (not necessarily a test, perhaps a worksheet or research period). Quick quizzes were good for "on your toes" thinking. [You need to have done the work to handle those, but if someone only reads the book and retains all info, then those will all be right and I don't know how they think]

With anyone, it is truly what you feel better doing: One of my daughters liked tests. She did well on them. The other was more comfortable with papers and hands on work in college. [They both did the same degree at the same college.]

Tests are inadequate. You need a wider range of information.