Testing Through Tests

Through years tests have been consolidating themseleves in education as one of the most useful ways to measure learners' knowledge, if it is not the most used one. How meaninful a test can be depends on many factors. First, establishing a purpose for the test before applying it; second, being aware of what has been taught in order to know what to assess; third, the different reflections the teacher can subtract from the test experience; and fourth, being exposed to possible changes on the way to assess the learners. The teacher must consider all these issues at the moment of applying a test, the old fashioned idea of seeing a test just as a tool to get a grade and classify the learners' knowledge must not be accepted nowadays.

Another aspect very important to mention is that the teacher must not forget telling his students about the objective of the test, as well as giving them the instructions very clear; if it is necesary the teacher must repeat them. The teacher must let students know that tests are the opportunity to show how much they have learned and also to know what topics need more attention and maybe explanation. A test must be seen by students as a challenge in order to learn, and the teacher is the person in charge of encouraging them to take tests in a good way, he is who motivates them to keep learning. On the other hand, the teacher must be concious that kids have different learning skills, it means the teacher have to know how to measure the knowledge of each student doing a balance between the different skills the students are assessed.  

-While large-scale standardized tests may appear to have great influence at specific times. Without question, teachers are the drivers of the assessment systems that determine the effectiveness of schools. 

Stiggins, 1994, p. 438