More Than Testing

Abstract

To everyone's confusion, the terms testing, assessment, and evaluation are often used interchangeably. Nevertheless, they are not synonymous. We use tests in the process of assessing students' knowledge to make judgments, or evaluations. Evaluation depends on values. When we conclude that Sam or Alice is doing well or poorly in mathematics, we are referring consciously or unconsciously to their ability to perform the kinds of mathematics that we believe are important—that we value. Tests, however, are measuring instruments like thermometers and scales. They hold no value in themselves but are one of the many possible tool that we use to assess student' progress. Unfortunately, because testing is the easiest of the three to think about and to do, we tend to focus on testing. Evaluation, however, is at the heart of teaching. Without evaluation, we would know neither what students understand nor how successfully we have taught them.