Save the EARTH...RECYCLE

After reading the article on constructing teacher-made tests, I am feeling every math teacher at my school (including myself) who uses the pre-made tests constructed by the textbook company needs to dump them off in the trash. No wait, save the Earth…RECYCLE them in the recycle bin. The pre-made name starts out with “test form A or B” then the instructions say, “solve the problems” then the problems are listed. This does not in many ways reflect a well-developed criterion-referenced test. Although the pre-made test do not follow many of the steps in the article, the test bank provided by the book can allow for flexibility in constructing a test for evaluating students. While pre-made include few of the guidelines for constructing a math test, I have never thought for them to include step three: statement or purpose of the test. At the beginning of every lesson, my class and I discuss the NCSCOS objectives as well as I restate the objective for students to understand what knowledge should be obtained during the lesson. Even though I know how important it is for students to be able to translate an objective, I just have never thought to include it on a math test. While reflecting on the steps of constructing teacher-made tests, I can understand the importance of including the purpose of the test. This statement may help students reflect back to the lesson taught, which could aid them in working through solving the problems. As I grade math test, I sometimes wonder what happened to a student’s transfer of knowledge. I now understand that it maybe due to a poor constructed assessment. I definitely need to visit my recycle bin and implement the eight steps while I develop new math test!