The Realities of Classroom Testing and Grading: A Guide to Performance Issues

It is commonly believed that highly subjective humans ultimately perform all testing and grading efforts and that all testing and grading is completely subjective. However, Quentin Durham argues that there is no such thing as ‘objective’ testing or grading. With wit and clarity, The Realities of Classroom Testing and Grading suggests that all testing and grading efforts_from preschool to high school_are fundamentally the same. The instructor teaches what the student is supposed to learn, assesses the student’s understanding, and reports the assessment to the people who count. This book discusses a wide variety of generally taboo or ignored topics such as the multiple benefits of testing and grading beyond the obvious, realities of standardized exams, open book exams, teaching exam-taking, exam subjectivity and relevance, ‘test wiley’ students, cheating, parent conferences, grading methods that make sense, and lots more.