Projects, not tests

The quality of a question is not judged by its complexity but by the complexity of the thinking it provokes. Joseph O’Conner

Google’s online Science Fair program asks students to consider three questions when choosing a project:

1. What do you love?
2. What are you good at?
3. What do you want to change?

The science fair’s judging criteria includes:

• Inspirational entry or idea – does it really stand out?
• Capacity to make an impact - could the science demonstrated make a real difference to science or the world around us?
• Passion for science – would you be a good role model for other young scientists?
• Excellence of method – have you demonstrated real skill in their science/engineering planning and implementation of their experiment(s)?
• Communication skills - enthusiasm, clarity, confidence, effective use of media, diagrams and Google tools.

Google, I like these questions and criteria. But for a company known for innovation, why are you not asking for it as well?

Tests or projects?

In your daily work, do you take tests or complete projects?

My job as a technology director is primarily a string of projects that either I complete and manage or help my staff complete and manage successfully. Deploying student devices is a project. Implementing and maintaining networks, servers, and resources like GoogleApps for Education are projects. Planning and implementing effective professional development activities are projects. I could list probably a hundred more, but you get the idea.

The last time I took a “test” was when I became “GoogleApps Certified”. It meant reading a series of little online guides on things like Gmail and GoogleDocs and then passing short self-administered multiple-guess quizzes at the end of each one. I studied hard for the first quiz, passed it, and realized that these were “open book” quizzes where I could look up an answer (How much personal storage space does each user get from Google?) if I was stumped.

There are two ways to view my look-up-the-answer method of test-taking. It was flat out cheating or Google was testing my ability to locate the “right answer.” I choose to believe the second since as fast as Google products change - often several times a month - any memorized answer might soon be inaccurate.

Some of us of course, need to take exams for getting or renewing specialized certifications or licenses: CPR, Hazardous Waste Management, or driver’s licenses for example.

But most of us spend our days as project-based learners and managers. And those real world skills are why we should ask students to a lot of projects.