Where’s the Learning? The Fallacy and Folly of Final Exams
“Bless me Father, for I have sinned.”
Had I grown up Catholic, the priest would have heard my confession more than once during junior high and high school final exam time. All right, college too.
There is no question that emphasizing important concepts and skills multiple times has significant educational value. No problem with circling back for review. Smaller, more frequent assessments coupled with real-time feedback result in learning that sticks. A formal exam has little impact on learning, especially contained as part of an exam week. Results though are useful tools for categorizing, sorting, and ranking.
Why is a final exam necessary? Short answer. It’s not.