Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM) explains the abbreviation RTFM as “Read the Fucking Manual” and lists almost 40 equivalent expressions like GLOG for “Go Look on Google.” The multitude of such abbreviations simply tells us that people do not have the patience to learn before starting to use computers. I almost never read the booklets entitled “Read This First” when opening a package and starting to use a new computer or other similar device. I assume that it will be self explanatory, and that I will be able to use these devices right out of the box.

Now the same applies to learning in general. Students - this certainly applied to me when I was a student - will try to see whether they can solve the problems of an exam or of a class before actually taking the class. To study a course I started from the old final exams of that course and worked my way back from these old final exams. Usually that gave me enough information, and I was able to pass final exams of classes that I never took. I did that a lot.

With this observation in mind, I am now offering to my students exams which, in a way, teach the students as needed. This is a service offered by the WebALT Company. For an example of this, you may take the practice session on limits at http://www.webalt.com:8081/classes/Calculus/. Do not worry, we are not monitoring your responses. Stay tuned, more will follow.

Technorati Tags: Assessment podcasting