“Testing what you think you are testing”

We will consider the relationship between the contents of an exam, whether written, oral, or aural, and the nature of what is actually being examined. How can we be sure we are measuring exactly what we want to measure? Japanese is a particular puzzle because students must learn to read and write even as they learn to speak, and while it is my favorite language, it will not be the only language discussed. The overarching issue is one of establishing outcomes that are realistic, making sure they are connected to classroom instruction, and then measuring progress towards them.

(William McClure, Acting Dean of Arts and Humanities, Queens College)