So when our school decided to invite someone from the government (the education ministry people) to clear out our imagination on the upcoming infamous PT3, we were thrilled. The first 20 minutes were filled with the insights and inspiration behind the replacement of PMR and most of us didn't show any interest on that instead we were eager to know how the ministry will conduct this new type of assessment in school because as we all know and had been through PMR acts as a filter paper to sort out the student from the science stream and the art and humanity. Now, tell us how you are going to sort them out.

PT3 was introduced to fill the lack of PMR which only assess the student on paper and not testing them practically. Student may be very good in writing but cannot produce a piece of authentic writing due to the common technique used way before the emerges of innovation and technology, which is MEMORIZING. I know some people who got A in their Bahasa Melayu during SPM but unfortunately cannot speak or explain good Malay while conversing with other. Couldn't even know how to use correct "imbuhan"!! And they are Malaysian!

The idea of PT3 somehow had attract me to an extent skills should be tested not in paper. I personally agree with that but that means both teacher and student should work harder than before. Since the world has changed too much, we cannot stuck in the same pace. We also need to change even tough it means our whole lifestyle. 

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Well, let's just hope that the ministry has done many, if not, lots of research and has piloted this PT3 before throwing it to the schools and demand the teachers to do exactly what they had in mind. Can't wait for the first result of PT3!

Test, assessment and evaluation?

For the past 10 years that I've spent during my elementary, secondary and matriculation the most dreadful word I ever have is examination. A day where you sit in row and the desks are arranged individually. I was always wondering, what do I gain from this examination? I never recall knowing how to paint in dual color blocks in reality although I can always answer it right in art exam paper. I only know, but can never make it reality. Do I ever learn anything?

So, when our lecturer asks us to write our thought about testing, assessment and evaluation, the first thing come across my head is grade. These types of measuring student's knowledge tools are closely related to grade which will determined your qualification to pursue your ambition.

However, driving from constructivist idea about knowledge, it's important for us to redefine what these terms should be. According to constructivism, learning is not objective, therefore why should testing be in objective?

I would like to share my thought about testing, assessment and evaluation in simple description. In art class, the teacher testing her student whether he know a portrait drawing. How? She will asks him to describe what is portrait drawing. The teacher then give out a portrait drawing project and she will assess the project using specific criteria like color coordination and contour. If the student can perform well and reach the required criteria, they will get higher marks. At the end of semester, the teacher will evaluate all their works, test and projects to make sure the student was learning.

Test them when you need to know if they know it, assess them when you need to know if they able to and evaluate them when you need to know if they are learning.