Re: Conceptual Tests

[Brian Whatcott <inet@INTELLISYS.NET>]

As a cautionary response to this very natural nonPC outburst,
I should mention that after spending a long time in England, I was taking
an academic test written for Americans, and I was stalled by a culture
specific reference, many years ago.
[A detail of a baseball diamond? Insight into 'bottom of the ninth'? - I
can't recall]

At the time, I had the no doubt arrogant misconception that my English
vocabulary and comprehension level was equal to a task of this kind.
I needed to skip that question, all the same.   Rick would know it if he
ran across such a block. That is Tina's difficulty!

Brian W


At 07:20 AM 2/19/02, you wrote:
> 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.

Brian Whatcott
  Altus OK                      Eureka!