TEACHSOC: Re: To Del Thomas

[Del Thomas Ph D]

Hi khefley, I'm pleased that u see a value in testing. I have been involved in beta testing for a couple of decades.  Mainly software.  I thought that if we take that much care with games (that cost $40) and word processors why not instructional materials for which students pay thousands.  The texts we use could be considered software for the brain.    In general while many of the instructional material used in the classroom are heavily vetted they are not tested.  In particular they are not tested on the user population. Beta testing is just one of many types of testing.  However, there are a few things about beta testing you should consider.  Beta testing does not require random samples. There are very specific protocols available,  however, none of these are required to start testing instructional materials. ( I include on my website a way to do this is in class as a project.)  The main thing is to test the materials on a user group to improve.... or understand them.   For one thing it gives ownership to students.    [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I see on your website that many of the things that you do also do not appear to be "beta-tested" either. Please tell me If that is of such concern to you, I am curious as to why you don't make a living out of beta testing popular or seemingly useful assignments? what things on the website were not tested. As I said Beta testing in only one way of testing... I have all students submit a learning statement with each assignment which is a measure of what they have learned. The software I use has been beta tested as have the exercises. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If that is of such concern to you, I am curious as to why you don't make a living out of beta testing popular or seemingly useful assignments? Is this meant to suggest that I am the only one concerned about the use of untested materials in the classroom? As for whether or not untested activities are poor choices..... will we ever know without testing? I will be happy to aid and answer questions that go beyond the example on my website. Best Del   [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Del: I have watched you over the years say over and over again, "This isn't beta tested." If that is of such concern to you, I am curious as to why you don't make a living out of beta testing popular or seemingly useful assignments? I see on your website that many of the things that you do also do not appear to be "beta-tested" either. This doesn't make them poor choices for activities. Yet because we only teach the students we are given (which are far from random samples), there is little way to truly "beta-test" as a professor or teacher. That is only the tip of the iceberg of my thoughts on this matter, but I have to admit that every time I see you say that, I wonder why you do not try to conduct your own research. Your results could be valuable to most teachers/professors, but as almost NOTHING we do has been researched about its effects, it becomes meaningless to say that. Thanks... --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Teaching Sociology" group. To post to this group, send email to teachsoc@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/teachsoc -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---