Re: Conceptual Tests

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

I will be Politically Incorrect here (not for the first time).  I assume
these students intend to work in an English speaking society.  The school is
in IOWA!   Surprise, surprise, the language of instruction is English!  To
NOT use conceptual testing because not all the students are fluent in
English is a disservice to ALL the students.

The accommodation here is to allow ESL (English as second language) students
to use a dictionary during tests.

Rick

(Who is fed up the all the PC BS!)


----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Whatcott" <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: Conceptual Tests


> At 16:18 2/18/02 -0600, you wrote:
> > Hello
> > My boss wants me to give a presentation on the assesment of students =
> > I have done.  I have used the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation.=
> >   She has seen this and has told me it is invalid for my student popu=
> > lation.  THe reason:  the questions are too long and wordy since my p=
> > opulation is half non-native students.=20
> >
> > SO the question is Has there been any research into how non-native sp=
> > eakers of english do on these conceptual evaluation.
> >
> > Also, she doenst want conceptual evaluations.  She wants them to work=
> >  problems.  I tell her that is not where the research is pointing but=
> >  she says that conceptual is unfair.
> >
> > I dunno, I ask you
> >
> > Tina
> >
> > Tina Fanetti
>
>
> This is an exceptionally cogent criticism - if it is true that tests
> of the F & MCE are more wordy than other tests.
>   If there are conceptual tests which are LESS wordy than comparable tests
> then you can be properly remorseful in respect of unconscious
> discrimination and express a wish to move to the more graphical or brief
ones.