ABSTRACT

When most people think about an “assessment” or evaluation conducted within the school setting, the first thing that comes to mind is testing, whether the test refers to a pop quiz, a mid-term test, or part of the statewide or nation-wide proficiency exam. Just the thought of being “tested” can make us cringe, and tests bring a wide variety of negative thoughts to mind, regardless of whether they are part of the school system, job-related, medically oriented, or even a driving test. Testing often instills a sense of anxiety and fear in us because when we are “tested” we are fearful that we may “fail” the test.