“Do we need to know this for the exam?” is a common question at the beginning of a new school term. The goal should be to focus on learning, and on how to learn – certainly not on testing well.
We seldom remember the content of a college class, even from a semester ago. Maybe we as educators use the wrong metrics to measure performance and intellect. Employers rarely ask for test scores. They spend time assessing communication and analytical skills, and the ability to think and act as a professional. The intangibles score higher than any given skill set.
Academia thrives in a structured environment of testing and assessment. The business world operates with little direction with a strong focus on deliverables. There appears to be a disconnect between these two realities. Then we wonder why our students are not well prepared for the real world.
About Hemant Rustogi