This writing exam is just another example of how things are bass-ackwards in education. How can people fail a test like this after multiple English courses? How did they pass those courses to begin with? Instead of requiring yet another exam, perhaps we should look at why people are passing freshmen level composition courses and still are unable to write a coherent paragraph.
Here's another example...
I've been tasked in the past to develop a database/data entry system for professors to assess whether their students have learned the intended objectives for the course.
The entire time I'm thinking, "WHY?" If they didn't learn the objectives, don't they fail the class?
Apparently, the answer to that is a negative. A student can fail the class, yet meet all the objectives. OK, I can understand that. In theory, a student can show a basic understanding of the course material, yet be lazy and never turn in any assignments. However, it is also possible for a student can get an 'A' in a course and not meet any of these objectives.
On top of that, some departments determine how well an instructor is performing by hir students' performance on these assessments. Remember, these assessments are done by the instructor! The instructors are assessing themselves as well when they complete these assessments. Nobody seems to balk at this idea.
Talk about a messed-up system. It makes me glad I never went into education (at least not in the classroom). |
