yuvipandaTimed exams are bad
Min RK@yuvipanda I prefer the more highfalutin term “pedagogically unsound”
@minrk ooooh yea! I wonder if there is research on this
@yuvipanda I thought I remembered something, but I don’t know enough pedagogical research jargon to search efficiently. All I could find was a distinction between “power tests” (mastery of subject) and “speed tests” (quickness of recall), and time pressure reduces accuracy at evaluating power. But it was all about evaluation, rather than actual student accomplishment.
@yuvipanda but from personal anecdotal experience as both a teacher and student, project-based learning is far more effective because evaluation and learning are intertwined with a feedback loop. Exams are purely for evaluation of what has been learned, and not a contributor to learning itself beyond a vague impetus to study.
@yuvipanda BUT good projects are also VASTLY more work to both prepare and evaluate, so often aren’t feasible for large classes. The result is exams are the only feasible evaluation, despite everyone involved knowing they are bad.