How EffectiveTesting Enhances Learning

A recent study performed at Purdue University found that a group of 200 college students were better able to learn material for the long term if they were tested on it.  As the study was performed, it may make modern teaching paradigms seem silly.  It has certainly gotten the attention of many, including several publications.

The study had groups of students study a section of material in several different ways. Some re-read it, others drew concept maps and graphic organizers.  Others took “retrieval practice” tests.  After a week, each student was tested and the “testing” group knew more…a lot more.  50% more to be precise.

 “This type of test is not the type produced by testing companies” says National Education and Assessment Consultant Virginia Malone. “This is an immediate test over fairly small amounts of information.  Testing companies, NAEP, state tests and the like are focused on information on a wide variety of information.  I do think the short tests do indeed help students retain information.”

One of the more surprising results is how much more testing helped students learn material than did concept mapping.  Students that performed the concept maps reported a much higher confidence in their learning the material than did the testers.  This suggests that drawing concept maps creates an illusion of learning that is more imagined than real.  The opposite seemed true for the testers.

Dr. Rene Stofflett warns against reading too much into the study:

It is important to note the congruency between what is being measured and how it is being measured. It may at first seem shocking that concept mapping, which has been shown in decades of research to result in better conceptual learning, was outperformed by the recall methods. However, learning facts for recall is more in line with traditional testing than learning complex relationships, such as those developed in creating a concept map. In addition to looking at issues of information processing, researchers should also consider the nature of the instrument and its relationship to the nature of the knowledge being assessed.

If nothing else, the study creates a new avenue for debate in a debate-battered industry. One place that most will agree is on the value and power of well delivered formative assessment. Unfortunately, what is usually sold as “formative” is test prep.  The truth is most people do not know the difference between the two, even educators. Maybe the folks at Purdue have delivered enough incentive for the education world to get it straight.

Rare Gratitude to Teachers by a Television Celebrity

In an unforeseen moment, public school teachers got props at the Golden Globe Awards last week.  It was a moment that will likely not be seen again, making this a rare gem to rerun on DVR multiple times.  It was a refreshing break from how teachers are normally portrayed on television, which is akin to the Keystone Cops.

While accepting an award for his show “Glee”, writer Ian Brennan said,”Thank you to public school teachers. You do the most important work in America even though you don’t get paid like it.” 

Unlike other “offerings” to teachers in the past, this one seemed genuine.  Almost as if his research for the scripts had given Mr. Brennan an appreciation he would not otherwise have.  If he had more time in his acceptance, he may have gone on to mention what it is about teaching that made it worth so much more than it pays.

Some of the unmentioned travails to having a teaching career are those that people out of the profession can never really appreciate.  Here is a list of some things that most non-teachers can usually do during the day that teachers cannot:

1 – Go to the restroom when nature calls

2 – Run to the bank during lunch

3 – Call in sick, or stay home with a sick child

4 – Submit an expense voucher

5 – Go get a coffee/lunch/newspaper

6 – Let your employer know that they are running late

7 – Leave early

8 – Take an early or long lunch, or even take the time to eat lunch

Then there is the actually job seeking.  There must be a bachelor’s degree and teacher’s license before securing employment.  In the case of many secondary teachers, that means a degree plan that is at least 135 hours, plus a semester of unpaid student teaching.  Many professions require internships, so this isn’t all that unparallel.  

But to be hired at a school, a teacher must submit a very lengthy application, letter of references, and all college transcripts….every time. They also need to submit for background checks, often at their own expense.  People seeking a vice presidency with a major company normally only submit a letter of interest and resume. 

But that is what happens when electing to spend days working with kids, which is something every teacher had signed up to do.  And thank goodness for them.