Question the Answers

teacherpaysteacher.com

In the interest of full disclosure let me state categorically that I am a recovering Rule Follower! There I said it, and that feels great! One of the evidences of Rule Following is the propensity to embrace the concept that the answer book/key has all the "right" answers, and if anyone provides an answer that is not validated by inclusion in the answer book, then it must be WRONG!!!!

The world of education is often driven by standardized testing which is driven by a variety of factors including ease of use and grading. There are connections to paradigms speaking to a simplistic right/wrong, pass/fail mentality popular in many non-education circles. In short, multiple choice, true/false and other such test are hazardous to a significant portion of our student population, and may be doing significant harm to our culture!

For years, I followed the dictates of standardized testing gleefully grading tests with my little red pen, driven by the answers that were before me in the answer key. One day, I decided to change my practice for some unknown reason and instead I handed the tests back to the students and asked that they grade their own tests for themselves as I read the answers off to them. My purpose was two fold, first immediacy of impact on their testing without public embarrassment. I wanted them to know in the moment how they had done rather than getting the test back days later in their end of week folders. (btw, I let everyone know that I was going to pick the tests up to verify accuracy of grading as soon as we were done.) Secondly, I wanted to open a discussion as to why they got questions right and wrong. I was looking to determine for myself, and for them, how they missed the mark on the questions that they failed to match the answer key.

clipartqueen.com

What took place next was amazing. As we discussed what went right, and what went wrong on the test some amazing truths revealed themselves. There were lots of mistakes due to miscalculations, misreading or misunderstanding the questions or possible answers. There were also numerous procedural errors where students marked the wrong answer, etc. What I also got was A LOT of feedback and questions from the students about why their answers were wrong when they thought they might just be right. As we sat and discussed point by point the issues at hand, I found out that the questions and answers might be interpreted in ways far different than the test intended. Students also came up with alternative methodologies to answers questions which while not matching what the book defined as "correct" were just as valid. Finally, I learned that experiences and perspectives matter greatly. What I (and the answer key) saw as the only possible answer might not be the only way to look at solving/answering the problem.

Suddenly, I was confronted with the reality that the answers in the answer key aren't always the only "right" answers, and that the best thing that I could do for my students was to ask and listen to their reasoning behind their answers before I applied my little red slash across their "wrong" answer. In doing this I opened up great dialogues with my students. I learned of alternative viewpoints and methodologies in my students that were just as valid and at times brilliant as the right answers set before me. And finally, I found out that I had a problem myself. Perhaps as a closet rule follower I needed to stop and ask questions where I had never considered asking them before. Not only was it the right thing for me (as a closet, and now recovering rule follower), it definitely was the right thing for my students.