Tests in most educational situations are ill-conceived systems of reward and punishment, whereas they should be a further means to teach.

Testing is a science in and of itself.  Below are some of the key words and phrases used in testing.  All of this obscures the plain simple truth that tests are designed to cull out dumb people.

Achievement tests, advanced students test (gifted and talented, a cruel way to stratify students), alternative assessment, alternate forms, aptitude, aptitude achievement discrepancy analysis, assessment, benchmark, battery (a group of tests), ceiling, competency, composite, content area, conversion table, core curriculum, criterion-referenced,    we've stopped this alphabetical list at the "c's" this goes on and on.

So in a typical learning situation tests are given to assess the success or failure of the student's capacity to learn the material being taught.  The student is either rewarded with a good grade or punished with a bad one, then it's time to move on.  But what happens to the student that doesn't acquire a basic understanding of the material as given.  Early on with any subject this improper instruction is only compounded down the line.  Failure begets failure.  If the student does not reach a threshold understanding (our "moment of clarity") of the material, the entire process is doomed from the start more times than not.  

At patentlessons.com out tests are designed to teach as well as to show competent understanding.  How many times does a law school graduate get to take a bar exam?  As many times as it takes.  Right?  Right.

Each of our lessons come with a 60 question test and additional tests if necessary.  Before taking lesson 2 we want you to fully understand lesson 1, etc.  So, for instance, say you miss 8 questions on the test for lesson 1, following that we'll email you your results complete with an analysis of  your mistakes.  We'll point out your errors and suggest review on the sections that we believe you need.  If we think it necessary we'll email you another test.

This is a correspondence course.  We talk to you, you talk to us, then we talk to you, back and forth till you understand the material.  We haven't given up on anyone yet, nor do we plan to.

© Devinet Inc.   2002.