Learning after Examinations

You can feel and hear the sigh of relief at the end of the examination period as the girls (and teachers) begin to anticipate the summer holidays. So, what happens in the classroom in the last few weeks of Term 4? Or as many girls might say to their teachers, what is the point now?

Every day the girls are at school, learning is occurring. If we think about our learning as only for the purpose of assessment, we have a limited view of the purpose of education. Once we finish school, we continue to learn daily but are rarely formally assessed on our learning. Learning is not contingent on assessment. At times, the focus on assessments and examinations can rob the girls of joy in their learning, and this season of the year is a wonderful time to rekindle that joy after a pressured period.

The learning that occurs after examinations is rich and purposeful and allows the girls to apply their knowledge gained throughout the year in creative and collaborative ways. Teachers often plan for practical lessons to allow students to hone the skills they have learnt throughout the year and apply them in practice or allow students to work on collaborative projects to help develop teamwork and project skills which are so vital for girls in their lives beyond school. There is time for teachers and students to slow down and to spend on drawing real-world connections between syllabus content and contemporary issues in society.

It is also an important time of reflection as girls think about their feedback from teachers and how their knowledge and capacity have been extended and expanded throughout the year. Encourage your daughter to reflect on her learning, by asking her these questions:

• What is something you know now that you did not know at the start of the year?
• What is a goal you have accomplished this year?
• What have you learnt about yourself as a learner this year?
• What have you most enjoyed about your learning this year?

While your daughter might suggest that there is no learning happening in the last few weeks of term and that a day off or an early holiday is okay, our message to the girls is that the learning does not stop once examinations are complete.