In all SABIS® schools, students follow the SABIS® approach to education that uses dynamic materials, proven methods, and cutting-edge technology to provide a solid foundation of knowledge that can be used as a springboard for learning in college and beyond. Central to the SABIS® approach to education is the timely tracking of student performance through frequent testing.
Academic Benefits of Testing
The efficacy of testing in the learning process has been proven in various studies conducted over time. In a nutshell, it has been shown that long-term memory is enhanced when some of the learning period is devoted to retrieving the information taught. This ability to retrieve learning is often referred to as the “testing effect” or “retrieval practice.” In short, the process of having to retrieve information from the brain during testing induces deeper understanding of the material and allows information to be committed to long-term memory.
Evidence also suggests that testing facilitates the retrieval of information that was not tested and facilitates the retrieval of relevant information that can be used to solve new problems. This means that students who are tested regularly perform better when answering questions they have not seen before and are better able to transfer their knowledge to new concepts.
Other Benefits of Testing: Important Life Skills
Testing also allows students to develop important life skills that will serve them well in the future.
First and foremost, through regular assessment, students learn to perform well under pressure, a skill that they will need as they move through life and undoubtedly face stressful situations.
Second, through regular assessment, students develop the ability to organize available time well and acquire the ability to focus and sustain concentration for longer periods of time.
Last but not least, frequent assessment encourages students to study regularly, rather than crash-study before a high-stakes exam. These healthy study habits will help them succeed as they move into university where cramming increasingly complex information becomes virtually impossible.
The SABIS® Approach to Testing
As a performance-driven organization, SABIS® has long understood the many benefits of testing. We believe that frequent assessment helps students build a solid foundation of knowledge by ensuring that they are actually learning, understanding, and retaining the material taught in class.
Frequent assessment in SABIS® schools also allows teachers and administrators to identify gaps in students’ knowledge that could hinder future learning. In such a case, students are given extensive support to fill the gap, preventing its further development, and ensure academic advancement. Additionally, students are provided guidance on effective study habits and given the motivation and encouragement needed to progress on a successful learning path through the ongoing support of academic staff, peer tutors, and teachers.
If you would like to know more about the SABIS® approach to education, click here sabis.net/a-sabis-education.