A word about Test Return

In my classes we’ve done our first test now, and are now working through some corrections.

It’s so important for students to take a minute to revisit their work and use this as a learning opportunity to improve skills. I have been using an error analysis page for years, originally inspired by mathequalslove. The types of errors are: inattention (focus/concentration/not reading the instructions/all the “whoopsie” mistakes that you could fix if you were paying attention). Computation is a calculation (zero pairs, integers, order of operations, fractions issue), precision is communication (then”let x represent” statements, the final statements, the units, the clarity of the work, handwriting sometimes causes numbers to migrate from one to another), problem solving is the most serious kind of error, those ones you got stumped and couldn’t start, or couldn’t continue and you likely need help from someone else to sort through those ones. Test taking strategy is an error like spending a lot of time on page 1 and never getting to page 4.

As we go through the course skills build on each other, and if we can get a handle on the errors we make now, we’ll be in better shape by the end. I like to spiral through courses as well, so no learning cycle is truly final. We will see the skills later, so confronting the errors now is important.

There are many emotions around getting tests back. Excitement, confusion, disappointment, judgement, but we can make this a moment for connection and mutual support as well. We can make study groups, help each other out with problems, encourage and support our classmates as we navigate the challenges together.

I ask for corrections ro be done, and submitted. I’ll keep returning them until they’re fully and completely done. Some people submit them 3 or 4 times but eventually everyone has a full solution set for their records.