Finals are fun for the young
Print Edition
WHILE students from higher grades rack their brains cramming for final examinations, first and second graders in Minhang primary schools think finals are fun. For them, it means playing games.
After local education authorities banned written exams for Grade 1 and 2 students, primary schools in Minhang came up with innovative new ways of evaluating student performance.
The Meilong Central Primary School, for example, chose a children’s play center as its “exam” site. Children were asked to simulate running a theater, doing things such as ticket sales and performances. They were also required to make New Year’s cards, introduce themselves in English and participate in team sports.
Meanwhile, at the Hanghua No. 1 Primary School, first-grade students were required to simulate the operation of a New Year shopping carnival in a supermarket.
“Teachers will try to incorporate in the games knowledge the students have learned in classes, such as simple calculations and Chinese-character writing,” said Ye Ping, headmaster of the school. “They will also set up standards to assess children’s abilities in teamwork.”
“Children reveal their true natures when they play games,” said Li Qun, a primary school research expert with the Minhang Institute of Education. “Teacher need to monitor their performances closely to see how they use their abilities to solve problems and get along with one another. Such assessments will be passed on to parents.”
Teachers said parents welcome the new regime.
At Liming Primary School last year, a survey of parents asked for suggestions about how finals might be configured. Parents generally said they hoped such “exams” will be held more than once a semester so that children have more opportunity to hone their skills.
“I think a one-time activity is not sufficient to make a comprehensive assessment of a child’s abilities of children,” said Peggy Yang, mother of a 7-year-old student at Meilong Central Primary School.
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