I have passed countless examinations/assessments (whatever you want to call them) – some of which have a very low passing rate (CISM comes to mind), and over the past year I have had to be on the receiving end of the worst teaching methodologies and testing practices.
The following vignette is just an example of the latest in a series of undesirable outcomes from lackluster curriculums.
The following are 3 different types of sky color, but sometimes they can blend:
Example Powerpoint Slide
1) Blue – weather is clear
2) Red – potential for poor weather; if seen in the morning
3) Gray – clouds, potential rain
Obviously, the sky can be any of these colors at any given time or all of them at once. Now lets take a look at a description from a publication (the source of all answers):
Red sky at night, sailors delight.
Example Publication
When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.
Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.
A red sunrise can mean that a high pressure system (good weather) has already passed, thus indicating that a storm system (low pressure) may be moving to the east. A morning sky that is a deep, fiery red can indicate that there is high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain could be on its way.
And now lets take a look at an example question:
What sky color can indicate potential rain?
Example Assessment question
a. Red
b. Blue
c. Gray
So, as you can see – there is definite ambiguity within the question. Based on the ‘teaching’ of the topic – the answer would be ‘gray’ due to the words matching what is in the slide deck. But, if you have more advanced knowledge of the subject matter (presumably from the publication) – you would put ‘red’.
There are many problems with this methodology, the blatantly obvious – people are not learning anything – they are blindly following what is given to them in a slide deck. Especially when at the outset of the course it is told to the students that everything on the test will be from the slide decks -> Blind Faith!
The lowest common denominator turns out to be the most successful in this forum due to their credulity in inaccurate data instead of taking the time to learn the material referenced in the publications. Now going to the extreme, if the lowest common denominator follows blindly in an “academic” environment – how can they think critically when time is of the essence and people’s lives are in the balance?
