TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

*Student Development;*Test Use Tests are intended to assess performance of students.However, tests can also be used as an educational tool. CUrrentpatterns in education have produced a group of students with weaklearning skills, limited confidence in their own abilities, anunderlying hostility or distrust of the educational system, and aninhitsited attitude towards self-help activities. This paper describesa straightforward technique to reduce these patterns. The methodcalled oCballenge " encourages students to engage in self-directedanalysis of their mistakes on objective tests. Since there can begenuine disagreement about answers to multiple-choice questions,tztudents are asked to defend their answers on tests in writing by thestart of the next class after the test. Credit is given on the basisof the quality of logic or esidence directly stated in the challenge.There are numerous pedagogical and psychological benefits that canresult. The method inhibits alienating effects of objective tests andlarge classec. The process encourages greater student understandingof course content, improves methodo of 'Lest taking, and enhancesconceptual abilities. Self esteem and a sense of personal empowermentmay also increase. (Author/LL) *********************************************************************4*Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document. r4