Week 4 Video and Reading Reflection

Equal opportunity on assessments was this weeks topic.  Having student demonstrate their understanding of materials taught through a standardize testing format may not be the best way to evaluate their understanding of the materials taught. Having projects with rubrics that allow the student to show their abilities in using the materials instead of regurgitating it from memory is good for all students. This allows for less test anxiety and stress giving those student who experience these problems a chance to demonstrate their true understanding by having a product they can show and explain.  If a test using a standardized method must be used then allow for other learning styles, as in an audio clip that ask the questions to go along with the written test question.  This allows for students with a different learning style to be able to level the field on the testing information.  Putting students at the center of the learning process is the key to transforming the educational system, according to world renowned mathematician and educator, Seymour Papert. The students need to know that they are going to use the information they are getting from the educator.

There is no one way that will do for all students, we need to incorporate different types of learning styles into our testing so all students can show their true abilities, one of the ways this can be done be project based learning.

• Citation: Edutopia.org (December 10, 2007). The Collaborative Classroom: An Interview with Linda Darling-Hammond. Filmed at the CASEL forum in New York City. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/linda-darling-hammond-sel-video