Understanding assessed

As a student, what else can be more terrifying than test? And what more if it is a 40 percent summative test? But yes…yes. Assessment is part and parcel of students’ life. Whether you like it or not, you still have to do it. Yuck! I hate that! I sound like a total pessimist!

So now, let’s look at the positive sides of assessment.

o Test gives the opportunity to enhance understanding.
Well… obviously we need to do preparation before the test. By doing preparation, we will be able to equip ourselves with useful knowledge and information and this will enhance our understanding. Besides, we will also be able to grasp any missing point or information during the lecture.

o Test increases curiosity.
Hehe…this is obviously true. The forum in Moodle is very much livelier after the exam right? I believe that the examination questions increase students curiosity thus makes them want to explore more about the topic tested.

o Test shows that learning is purposeful.
I am not saying that without test learning is meaningless but, test enables students to focus and devote their fullest attention on the lecture because they know that in the end, their understanding will be assessed.

o Test promotes critical thinking
Test enables our brains to function actively. You know…the neurons will be connected to each other and brain cells will be stronger and finally, we will be better thinkers. (I think it works that way) Without test, we may probably end up being like…err…Homer Simpson?

o Test makes us responsible of our own learning.
Hello…it is our own CGPA. It is not like others will care if we didn’t do well for our test because it is not their CGPA, it is ours…it is our responsibility. I bet, that makes us responsible of our own learning. And I think that it is useful to be responsible of our own learning because I believe such attitude is extremely helpful for long-life learning.

o Finally, test gives you reason to celebrate.
I don’t know about others but for me, when a test ends, it gives me a reason to celebrate. Be it a simple test or a tough one, celebration is a must. Well, celebration is not necessarily the I-would-like-to-propose-a-toast thingy, it can be as simple as 4 hours nap in the afternoon or 3 scoops of rice instead of 2.

Those are the positives sides of test that my roomies and I can think of right now. I bet there are more than those. But what to do, all of us are big fat pessimists. We were having extremely difficult time thinking of those advantages. Perhaps, our brains just did not allow us to find more than that. So, back to the ICTPE test, as preparation, I read all the notes uploaded in Moodle and I read articles from some websites too. For instance, the following websites as suggested by Miss Chin:

http://eleaston.com
http://www.tutor.com.my
http://www.bmspm.cjb.net/
http://www.karyanet.com.my
http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/33.html
http://portalbahasamelayu.fateback.com/index1.htm
Besides, I got myself familiarized with Airset.com and I explored the functions that it offers.

I answered questions regarding Airset.com, blog, as well as ICT and the 14 Principles of Learning in the Primary School Curriculum by Brennan. Honestly, I am not confident with my answers but, I just pray for them to be accepted. Hopefully, I am able to score well… And the next day after the test, Jahwati and I went to Midvalley to celebrate. We watched Adam Sandler’s Chuck and Larry…and we treated ourselves with Secret Recipes’ yummy Cheezi Macaroni for ‘Buka Puasa’.