Measuring Learning Without Tests or Curriculum
If you only measure what can be put on a multiple-choice test, you miss almost everything that makes a human being competent.
When I was homeschooled, I never once took a standardized test. I didn't have a report card. To an outside observer, it might have looked like my parents had no idea if I was "at grade level." But the reality was the opposite: because they were with me every day, they had a far more accurate and nuanced understanding of my progress than any bubble-sheet could provide.
Testing is a tool for managing large populations of students you don't know personally. It is a coarse instrument. In a freedom-based life, we use finer tools.
The Measurement of Output
Instead of testing for "recall" (can you repeat what I told you?), we look for "output" (can you produce something with what you know?). If a child is interested in history, the measure of their learning isn't a date on a test; it's the essay they wrote, the map they drew, or the way they can explain the causes of a conflict to a guest at dinner. Output is proof of understanding.
The Measurement of Questions
One of the best indicators of learning is the quality of the questions a child asks. A child who is just "getting by" asks, "Will this be on the test?" A child who is learning asks, "But how does this part connect to that part?" When the questions get deeper, the learning is happening.
Measurement Check
- What did your child produce this week that didn't exist before?
- What was the most interesting question your child asked today?
- Can your child explain a complex concept to someone who knows nothing about it?
The Long Game of Competence
As I plan to homeschool, I’m not worried about "grade levels." I’m worried about competence. Can they write clearly? Can they solve mathematical problems in context? Can they navigate a library or the internet to find truth? These are the real metrics of a successful education.