Travis Dalsis--Testing and Engagement with Literature Response

A key idea that I was intrigued by is this idea of "text repoduction" within the framework of whole-class discussions.

Initially, when I think of discussions in a classroom, I DO think of text reproduction as a way to "test" whether or not my students comprehend and read what they were supposed to read.  As the study shows, this is not student engagement with texts.

What about making connections, finding passionate positions to stand on and argue about, or inserting your own dilemmas and working them out?

I just wanted to share this important idea and how we sometimes think that students are really "learning" when all they are doing is comprehending.  Comprehension is an important part of learning to become a critical reader, but with standardized testing, it limits the ability to extend beyond those boundaries because the standardize testing is a calculated a,b,c,d opportunity that only involves knowing an answer.  It doesn't ask students to engage in the themes and determine what about them connect or challenge them as humans.