While recently studying teachers’
methods of grading, I observed that most teachers grade students based on their
ability to restate facts rather than upon the thought process that goes into
learning. I believe that only grading the “end product” causes students great
anxiety about their grade and inhibits them from enjoying the process of mental
exploration and learning. While students should experience some prompting and
excitement in education, I believe that students should be free of worries and
fears while learning. Students need to know that learning is not only achieving
knowledge about a subject, but is also about the thought process to obtain that
knowledge. This process should be taken into account during the grading evaluation.
How a student arrives at their understanding should be a vital part of the
measuring process, not simply for what they accomplished at the end.
What do you think about students’ end product versus their thought process?
It is my opinion that the end product of learning facts is not an accurate way to determine whether a student has truly learned. The fact that people learn is universal, but the progression is not the same for everyone. Learning and knowledge requires time and understanding from both the teacher and student.
ReplyDeleteWhile knowledge is easily tested, it is quite difficult for a teacher to determine whether the knowledge gained by a student resulted from the process of learning that the teacher desired. Consequently, there can be no fair evaluation if the end product is the sole focus. The result of learning should be knowledge that is applicable to the student’s life. Weighing learning based purely on an answer to a question is not only irrelevant, but also rude since it does not account for the academic and even personal obstacles faced. What challenges did the student endure to gain that knowledge and understanding? The goal of education is learning not testing. Instead of comparing answers, teachers should encourage students to share with each other the various ways they learn and explain how they solve problems. Overemphasis on the end product in education potentially encourages cheating and limits what students can do with their new knowledge. If the teacher primarily cares about the results when grading, the student will possibly do whatever necessary to have a good result.
I personally put more emphasis on students’ thought process. I am a firm believer that education and knowledge build through one’s contemplation of ideas and material. Someone may think and understand incorrectly at first. However, as their education and knowledge develop, they can mentally alter their schema and understand the correct information on a deeper level. Even though I see the importance of the end product, I believe that the thought process will give a teacher more insight on the academic development of students.
ReplyDeleteIt is my belief that the end product and the thought process work together. My observation shows that the thought process takes time to develop and advances through interactions with nature, man, and circumstances. Adults should allow children to develop their thought processes at their own individual level and pace. The development of the thought process leads to the end product, which is an adult who is empowered by his successful education and is an independent learner.
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