Testing

Are tests the best way to measure learning?

I think that testing is beneficial in some circumstances; however, I do not think it is the only or the best way to measure a student's competency. I know that from my own experience, I am not the best tester I would much rather do an oral presentation on what I've learned than study for hours to try and guess what the teacher wants me to know. I think that there should be multiple different options for students to regurgitate the material they have learned. Testing can be either extremely easy or extremely hard depending on the teacher. This is part of the problem of testing, some teachers are clear about what will be on the test while others are vague. It would be better for students to let the teacher know what they have learned rather try to figure out what the teacher wanted them to learn. Testing, in some instances, can be beneficial. Some students do very well at taking tests. However, just because some students do well at testing does not mean that we should subject every student to learn this way.