I read an article in Educational Leadership magazine called “Redos and Retakes Done Right”, by Rick Wormeli. The article assumes that allowing students multiple attempts to complete and assignment or retake a test better prepares them for adult life. And although we can’t allow “do overs” all the time, allowing students to redo assignments or tests when the standards are essential and important is highly effective.
One of the examples in the article talks about an Olympic runner. Once the pistol goes off, the runners race to the finish. The runner that comes in 4th doesn’t get a medal. Does he or she get a “do over”? Of course not, because at that level of competition, everyone in the race is already a proficient runner. They are not “learning to run”, they have practiced for years and been at hundreds of competitions to hone their skills and become better.
Practice, practice, practice…we all know that when we do something repeatedly we get better at it. Some of the students who attend our Math Club at lunchtime are seeing that when you practice your multiplication facts every day, even for just 10 or 15 minutes, you learn more and can recall them faster. We also know that practicing by yourself is fine but if you are getting feedback as you practice from someone else you get better, faster. That’s why runners and sports teams have coaches, symphonies have conductors and students have teachers and parents.
An oscilloscope measures the voltage and frequency of an electric signal and displays it on a screen so you can see the shape of signal. I was shown how to use one about a year ago. Yesterday, I tried to operate the ‘scope the same way I did a year ago and guess what? I forgot how! If I was going to be scored on my performance, I would have failed. My intellectual capabilities had nothing to do with my failure; I hadn’t practiced enough to remember all the correct settings and symbols necessary for success. But I needed the scope to work…so what did I do? I asked for help from someone who had the information I needed.
Should students be allowed an infinite number of “do overs” to get it right? Of course not, that would be impractical and unnecessary because many things are learned in a short amount of time with and without much practice. But ideas and skills that are more complex will take more time and practice to learn and to be able to demonstrate the same skills and ideas to someone else or on a test. Students are given many opportunities to practice during the school day. The practice time continues during homework time at home or in SPARK. It is important to remember that during practice times feedback is essential for learning.
Teaching students to recognize that frequent practice leads to successful performance will better prepare them for adult life.
