Testing 1-2-3

So the multiple choice tests were the bane of my existence during this course. As I have said in my previous post about standardized testing I said I have never been a good test taker. I especially dislike multiple choice tests because there is only one correct answer. I learn more content when the tests are open ended questions and I am able to use what I have learned to create the answer.

I understand the importance of self-assessment in the construction of knowledge but the amount of assessments this edlab expected of us was a lot. The pretest was meant to gain a sense of our prior knowledge of the topics and then the posttest was to see how much we learned after reading the text.

What I did not agree with was the learning objectives we needed to complete if we received a low score on the pretest. I feel that the pretest is meant to be the basis for our learning. Like Laura said in class as well as Rachel in her blog post, it felt like we were being punished for not have sufficient prior knowledge on the material we had yet to read about. I feel that the learning outcome activities should be a suggestion alone without needed to be completed in order to move onto the post test. If we would like to gain more knowledge on the topics we are able to complete the activities but if we would rather go to the post test we should be able to do that.

Also Pearson's edlab had restrictions while I used it. The program would be under maintenance during the week so I was unable to complete the tests. I found to be very frustrating. There was a day when the site was under maintenance for two complete days so I had to wait to complete the tests and also do read the text because the text is attached to the website.

This etext experience had its ups and downs but I feel it will be useful in our future classrooms. Technology is being used in every classroom in the country in some way, such as Smart-boards, iPads, and computer labs are just some ways our students are coming in contact with technology. In ten years we may even have a computer for every student in our class instead of the lab. There also may be classes that meet strictly in a online format, so this testing format has made me prepared for the future classroom and texts I may come in contact with during my teaching career.