: :
461,078 Teachers| 92,855 Schools| 188 Countries Forgot Password

Testing: Context vs. Content PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 18 August 2008 05:00
Do you test for the standard or do you test for the context of the learning? When you have your class read Don Quixote, why are they reading the novel? Are they reading it for the experience of reading this world famous novel (the context) or are they reading the novel to learn more about critical analysis of a piece of fiction (the standard content)? Each and every classroom activity and test should be focused on the standard.

When the students are tested on Don Quixote, are they tested on who did what or said what (the context) or are they tested on how the various characters' actions and words demonstrate a theme in the novel (the standard content)?

When you assign projects that will be graded, do the projects focus on the students drawing their favorite scene (the context) or on illustrating the critical analysis of the theme (the content)? Are the projects assessed based on the standard?

Do you assess context or content?

Dr. Harry Grover Tuttle focuses on assessing and improving student learning through low- and high-tech tools.
Comments (1)Add Comment
Focus on the content
written by Naile, October 11, 2008
I have always focused on the content. I don't see the point of asking questions about the context. It might be due to the fact that I homeschool one third grader and one sixth grader. I only have one student in each class and I can clearly tell if they grasped the context. Reading class often goes on for hours at the library, living room or Starbucks. I forgot to mention Barnes & Noble. We talk back and forth about why the characters act a certain way or what they meant by what they said. We talk about how the character's behavior supports the main idea. We share wether we agree or disagree with the author and why or why not. I also give them written assignments with questions that encourage them to write out their thoughts. My son and I are currently reading The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. He keeps a page for each main character in which he writes things that character said or did. This helps him describe the character based on the character's behavior.

I would love to get some tips from you. Do you know of any helpful websites?
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +0

Write comment
quote
bold
italicize
underline
strike
url
image
quote
quote
smile
wink
laugh
grin
angry
sad
shocked
cool
tongue
kiss
cry
smaller | bigger

busy

Digg! Reddit! Del.icio.us! JoomlaVote! Google! Live! Facebook! Slashdot! Technorati! StumbleUpon! Yahoo! Free social bookmarking plugins and extensions for Joomla! websites!
Education News
About HotChalk | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact HotChalk | Advertise on HotChalk | HotChalk Around The World