Here we go again.
I take the quiz, the test, whatever... and lo and behold, I have received a D on the exam. Of course, should have seen that one coming. I know my pessimistic behavior is unappealing and probably not the greatest way to start off an article, but I'm trying to convey the authentic feelings, and the true reality that come with totally sucking at tests. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything.
Okay, okay. I know that this is kind of a long stretch, and it's going to take years and years for someone to pass a law allowing this kind of thing to happen. That's what my friend told me, anyway. And sadly, I believe her. But I think that anything is possible, especially if you really want to fight for it. I'm not writing this because I'm a lazy college student or anything, or someone who doesn't want to do all of the dirty work in order to achieve my dreams. It's not like I think this whole thing is easy, and we should all sit back and twiddle our thumbs and want to do nothing but play video games and eat pizza and binge on Netflix and completely neglect our education. No, that's not it at all. If it wasn't structured horribly, or confusing and stressful, demanding... or just plain exhausting, I wouldn't mind taking these tests. But it's the way that the tests are, that make them so incredibly horrible.
I will say that I am a little bit biased on this subject - or maybe, really really biased. But nonetheless, biased or not, I feel like this would still be an issue worth being passionate over. This truly effects me because I have a learning disability. I also have test and quiz taking anxiety, I have trouble comprehending certain things, I have to work way harder than most, and I have low self esteem when it comes to my intelligence - but that's mainly stemmed from years of struggling and discouragement.
Again, if you're reading this, you're completely and one hundred percent allowed to disagree with me because everyone has their right to an opinion. But I still think that this is a total issue, and it's possible to change the educational system around... not exactly to make it "easier", but to make it be the way that it should be: fun, intriguing, passionate and rewarding... truly rewarding. Test taking is just one of the many reasons I think the education system is debunked, and I will continue to go into further detail with the following. This is why we desperately need to change how we see education...
1. Test-taking is failing students.
This one is the ever popular reason why the classroom can seem like a bleak place to be, especially in high school and college. You want to know the main reasons as to why tons of kids are not succeeding in school???
-No texts.
You have to memorize everything. However, there are those circumstances where professors let you use your textbooks for certain quizzes. But nonetheless, tests takers are notorious for cramming everything into their minds. This stems from the anxiety. I think that open textbooks should be allowed during any kind of test taking, because you're still learning it as you read to find the answers. This makes more sense, and causes more of a relaxed feeling, so then it is easier to take the test. Weeks before the test date, most people spend time putting all of the information into their heads, just so it can go right out the other ear into "forgotten land."
There is already that motive to "memorize, memorize, memorize" before even beginning to study. Textbooks are important and I think that every single teacher out there should let the students utilize them during quiz or test.
-Stress.
Lots of people struggle with this, no matter who you are. There is always going to be that familiar twinge of stress and anxiety when starting a test. I don't have to go into detail, because I'm pretty sure you know exactly what I am talking about. When taking a test or quiz, whatever, your adrenaline builds up, and all of the concepts you memorized for this test is deteriorated because stress causes that to happen. It just makes sense. You spend more time fidgeting, biting your nails, staring at the clock, paranoid that other people are watching you, and at the same time you wonder if any of your answers are correct. Even if you are a good student, stress will find it's way and it's hard to keep it at bay - especially for those who struggle more than others or already diagnosed with anxiety. And that, is a high number in today's society.
-Time pressure.
Who in the world wants to be told, "You have an hour, and then that's all you get. Good luck." before a test??? I know that I don't. I never liked that. That anticipation that you feel, the palpitating in your heart before starting a test. It's just all too set up, and stress is the main culprit. If you really wants students to do good on tests, you should let them have as much time as they need. I'm not saying give them three days or whatever, but let them take it at their pace and you'll be surprised with the results, I'm sure.
Timing during tests plays a big role in poor grades, in my opinion. If you're like me, you'll panic when people start to get up to turn their papers in and you realize that you're still sitting there, with the sheet in front of you. You bite your nails and stare at the clock. Yep, twenty more minutes left. This anxiety of lack of time causes most people to generally speed up, rushing through questions and not thinking through. And again, if you're like me, you'll panic that everyone is staring at you: the last person left . . . this is just silly, because who needs timing like that? I just feel that this whole time thing is structured in a way that is almost like a race or something. Who knows what the best, and so on.
Bottom line: No no no. Why should we have someone we hardly know (our professors) determine our intelligence from multiple choice questions, short answers or essays? There's a default here, and that is tests, from the get go, have that natural effect to cause major anxiety - therefore, not allowing people to perform their best and truly show off their abilities. It's all a joke. Everyone says "don't let a letter grade define who you are." Well, it's kind of difficult when you're in a society that cares so much about test scores... I could go on and on about this, but you get my point.
2. We don't want to just sit in a classroom all day.
I don't learn this way. I don't learn by sitting in a room. Learning should be outside. Learning should not be in a classroom. Learning should be exciting and hands on. There is so much to know about what's right outside - why not take advantage of it? I know I might sound like a damn hippie right now, but so be it. And this might sound silly, but I have to say this: just studying for something is stupid and a waste of time. Most people hate doing it, and they struggle with the concept because they beat themselves up over it - even before studying, just like I mentioned previously. It's boring and it's difficult for most to be motivated - especially if they don't like it in the first place.
Learning is something that most people want to actually understand. And sometimes, the old-fashioned way by sitting in a classroom, taking notes under a horrible fluorescent lighting, and listening to an old guy babble on for an hour and fifteen minutes is just pure torture. Most are just bound to daydream and not take anything in. I want to be exposed, I want to be captured by what I am learning. I want to be interested and excited. This is not exciting - this, traditional sense of learning. I will be fair and say that there are schools that are beginning to be more hands on, and that's great. More people are starting to understand the severity of how learning the standard way, is just becoming outdated.
3. People need to wake up and realize that NOT EVERYONE LEARNS THE SAME WAY.
So stop teaching it in just one style. Again, I'll be fair: there are people switching up their methods to accommodate. But c'mon. I still feel like there is a lot of issues. What about those kids that are more creative? I personally feel, and it might just be me, that there are a lot of the more "right brained" creative students that are being forgotten. And I mean the students who are more visual and hands on. Aside from creative writing classes, art classes, photography, etc, the way they learn doesn't change when they're in a math class. I know that getting "creative" in a math class isn't really exactly possible (sorry to all of you mathematicians out there...) There is more to life than numbers and being forced to learn things that we don't want to.
P.S. please don't forget about those creative minded people... they really do exist, and yes, they are in your classroom.
4. Certain classes shouldn't be required.
Do the people that really struggle in math have to take it? I know it sounds like I'm giving up here, but let's be real. Basic math is a necessity, I totally get that. But algebra and beyond? Again, yeah I am biased, but it's the truth. So many students are essentially wasting their time struggling with a class that doesn't really apply to their major (this is obviously for those who don't necessarily need math for their major...) so, if they're not a biology major or something, does it truly matter? Will they fail in life if they don't obtain these certain math classes? My personal answer is no.
The time they spend struggling with a class they don't exactly need, is time they could have put into their major - and that goes with being excited about learning, being passionate, and feeling intrigued. These kinds of classes in comparison, just pull them down.
Honestly, I could go on and on and on about this topic. And to be even more honest, there are probably tons of things that I wanted to mention, but I won't think of them until later. This isn't even the half of it. Get me going on a rant, and you'll see what I mean. So as a whole, school is important. It's just as important to people who don't learn certain ways that other people do. We have to remember that there are tons of people out there who have so much potential, but are struggling immesnly. They deserve a chance, and I don't want to see their talents and intelligence go to waste because of a silly educational system.
I know it probably goes deeper than what I am talking about - oh, I know it does. But this is just me skimming the surface with what I know. I will applaud the schools and colleges, etc, that are improving their classroom settings and teaching styles. Still, we have a long way to go. I want to see a total change. I think that if that really happens, the world will be a different place. That's something I am sure of. Let's make that happen... for the future generations to come.
