Unpopular Opinions: Final Exams (Collabisode) [S6 E181]

Listen to the full episode below:

It’s time to unleash the sass! We’ve got another unpopular opinion episode for you today. These episodes are always popular with our Brave New Teaching audience and today some of YOU are contributing to the conversation.

If you despise the way that final exams are traditionally given, you are most definitely not alone! There is a good reason that you feel this way. Final exams are not research based or best practice. We are here to back you up and validate your feelings and you can help keep this conversation going by passing this episode along to colleagues.

For more unpopular opinions on final exams, join us over at Happy Hour! You’ll gain access to bonus podcast content, resources, Q&As, and more.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

• Why Amanda doesn’t hate final exams (wait, there’s a caveat!) 

• Marie’s reasoning for why final exams should not be done in a two-hour chunk of time or in one sitting

• The skills that students are taught when they are preparing for an exam is the whole reason why they’re so important

• The idea of students doing a massive reflection vs. a sit-down traditional exam

• Writing a 6,000+ word novel as an authentic final exam

• Traditional exams don’t give an accurate metric of what students can or can’t do

• Final exams are not a college prep tool when exemptions are handed out

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Down With the Reading Quiz Masterclass

• Grab The Ultimate Gift Guide

• Free one month trial of Audible

• Join BNT Happy Hour!

• Join Curriculum Rehab

• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching

• Follow Marie on Instagram: @thecaffeinatedclass

• Follow Amanda on Instagram: @mudandinkteaching

• Let us know what you think! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

check out other bnt episodes:

• Episode 167, Unpopular Opinions: Back to School

• Episode 82, Unpopular Opinions: Teacher Edition Part 1

• Episode 92, Unpopular Opinions: Teacher Edition Part 2

• Episode 8 and 9, To Teach At the End of the Year

More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.