{"id":37528,"date":"2022-07-07T19:23:31","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T23:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/?p=37528"},"modified":"2022-07-07T19:23:31","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T23:23:31","slug":"are-traditional-student-exams-obsolete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nstem.org\/staging\/2022\/07\/are-traditional-student-exams-obsolete\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Traditional Student Exams Obsolete?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Most students are used to taking end-of-term exams. These exams are critical because they account for a large percentage of every student\u2019s final course grade. However, end-of-term exams can be stressful for students because often, the students are trying to remember a year\u2019s worth of learning. These exams usually have multiple-choice or written response questions with one correct answer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For years, opponents of these tests have argued that end-of-term exams are not an accurate indicator of student knowledge; instead, they assess a student\u2019s ability to memorize material for a short time. Also, opponents argue that some students do not test well because their nerves affect their ability to focus. Ultimately, the question is: are end-of-year exams fair?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are Performance Tasks?<\/b><\/p>\n

In her blog, <\/span>Replacing Exams with Performance Tests<\/span><\/i>, Dr. Catlin Tucker suggests that performance tasks offer an exciting alternative to the traditional exam format. Unlike conventional exams, which ensure every student takes the same test, performance tasks allow students to choose a format they like. Performance tasks are a different assessment type that enables students to demonstrate their understanding and mastery of the material in a creative way.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Performance Task Examples\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The following are performance task examples that teachers can use with students:<\/span><\/p>\n