Test data conflict with instructional data

If test data conflicts with instructional data, either two different things are being measured, or one or the other of the data is unreliable. 

 OK, it is time for TRUE CONFESSIONS.  Your instructor once had a student who was a very good math student.  He was also a very industrious student.  I decided therefore to put him in a programmed math book.  In programmed math, problems appear on one side of the page and answers on the other.  The student covers up the answer, works the problem and then can immediately check his answer.  Well, being a new teacher, it took me several months to figure out why the student could do so well on all the programmed exercises and so poorly on the tests at the end of each section.  But I know what you are thinking.  Why didn't you realize that the student was just copying down the answers?  Well, where were you when I was a beginning teacher trying to keep my head above water? It's too late now.   I could have used you then!

Potential Remedy

Assuming the test and the instructional data are reliable, ensure that the test and instructional data are both monitoring the same things.  If students are involved in any kind of self data collection, check for honesty.

You can email Dr. McNair at jmcnair@calbaptist.edu

Copyright Jeff McNair/jeffmcnair.com