According to Rebecca Hiscock, a higher education counselor, relentless testing has proven to be detrimental to learners’ sense of self-worth. This has, therefore, ruined the joyfulness of learning as many students view it as stressful and tiresome.
Relentless testing has been embraced by many learning institutions because it is seen as a significant procedure of accessing the students’ comprehension of different concepts.
Nevertheless, this has proven disadvantageous because students view the learning process as a form of punishment, whereas this should not be the situation.
Relentless testing enshrined in society
Focusing on tests, judging, and measuring are procedures that substantially prevail in modern society. It is, therefore, a culture that has been embraced because it is depicted as a key performance indicator.
Testing as a sole means of measurement of learning is harmful as it has produced many young people whose concept of self-worth is highly dependent on the academic performance they attain.
Hiscock asserted that she had encountered many students who have acknowledged that if they do not attain the required GPA (Grade Point Average) their life is over because they are failures.
This notion has been instigated by relentless testing, whereby if a student does not obtain the stipulate grade, he/she is deemed a failure.
Relentless testing utilizes external measures that have been extended into social life. For instance, on social media, likes and friends are often numerically cataloged. As a result, they show the level of validation.
Relentless testing triggers the “not doing well” notion
Relentless testing prompts the idea of “not doing well” for those students who do not perform as expected. As a result, shame becomes inevitable, and this affects their self-esteem.
Relentless testing has, therefore, ruined the joyfulness of learning. Additionally, self-directed learning embraced at the university level has made stress unmanageable for many students.
On the other hand, the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress or ISASP test has been praised for successfully tracking students’ educational proficiency levels.
