What if your middle schooler had to verbally retell history to you?

As we struggle to teach the students facts and knowledge about history... ask yourself if that student who can pass a test, answer multiple choice questions, and match vocabulary, could do better than this San Francisco state University student at retelling the parts of history that they have learned about. (hat tip to Technology in the Middle)



It leaves me thinking again about the validity of using oral testing. I've become more fond of allowing oral responses and testing and use it most heavily during Flat Classroom and Horizon Projects -- I wonder if that is why the students remember so much of what they have learned in addition to the other aspects of the project that make it so engaging.

I have one thing to ask...

if they can't tell you the story... did they understand it at all?

tag: history, teaching, education, learning