A test does what the criterion says

What this lesson teaches: A test checks a criterion only when it does what the criterion says; then you watch what happens.

Video rendering. This video is in the Peps pipeline (about 67 seconds, 134 spoken words). Until it lands, the storyboard below is the video, beat by beat.

The script (narration and what is on screen) — open

#	Narration	On screen
1	In Mr. Park's class, Erin has built her pencil holder. Now she tests it against Mr. Park's criteria. The first criterion says it must keep ten pencils standing.	Mr. Park's classroom; Erin's tall holder with stars, empty, on the desk; chip MUST KEEP 10 PENCILS STANDING; no title slide
2	Erin puts in three pencils. They stand, but the criterion says ten, so three pencils do not test it.	three pencils drop into the holder and stand; chip 3 PENCILS; chip NOT THE TEST
3	Now she puts in ten pencils and watches. They stand. That tests the criterion.	seven more pencils drop in, ten in all, standing; chip 10 PENCILS; chip THE TEST
4	The second criterion says it must not tip when the desk is bumped. Luis bumps the desk and watches. That tests the criterion.	chip MUST NOT TIP WHEN THE DESK IS BUMPED; the desk wobbles with motion lines; chip THE TEST
5	But suppose Luis only looks at the holder and says it looks strong. Looking is not bumping. That does not test the criterion.	Luis, a whole figure with plain oblong arms, no fingers, beside the desk; speech chip IT LOOKS STRONG; the desk still; chip NOT THE TEST
6	So, here's what we've seen. A test checks a criterion only when it does what the criterion says. Then you watch what happens.	rule slide reuses the ten-pencil holder and the bumped desk; rule text
7	Okay, now your turn.	the attached question appears

In Mr. Park's class, Erin has built her pencil holder. Now she tests it against Mr. Park's criteria.

The first criterion: keep ten pencils standing up

Erin puts in three pencils. They stand, but the criterion says ten, so three pencils do not test it.

Now she puts in ten pencils and watches. They stand. That tests the criterion.

The second criterion: do not tip when the desk is bumped

Luis bumps the desk and watches. That tests the criterion.

But suppose Luis only looks at the holder and says it looks strong. Looking is not bumping. That does not test the criterion.

The criterion	What they did	Does it test the criterion?
Keep ten pencils standing up	Put in three pencils and watched	No. The criterion says ten.
Keep ten pencils standing up	Put in ten pencils and watched	Yes
Not tip when the desk is bumped	Bumped the desk and watched	Yes
Not tip when the desk is bumped	Looked at it	No. Looking is not bumping.

A test checks a criterion only when it does what the criterion says.

Then you watch what happens.

Okay, now your turn

One easy question straight after the video: the student answers it to move on.

After the video

A paper cup must hold water for one minute. Which test checks that criterion?

Quiz

(a) fluency: a criterion and a test; does the test check it? yes / no. Fresh contexts, never the lesson's own pencil holder.

Question 1

Criterion: the paper bridge must hold ten coins. Test: put ten coins on the bridge and watch. Does the test check the criterion?

Question 2

Criterion: the paper bridge must hold ten coins. Test: put three coins on the bridge and watch. Does the test check the criterion?

Question 3

Criterion: the bookmark must stay in the book when the book is shaken. Test: look at the bookmark to see if it is thick. Does the test check the criterion?

Question 4

Criterion: the bookmark must stay in the book when the book is shaken. Test: shake the book and watch. Does the test check the criterion?

Question 5

Criterion: the paper boat must float for one minute with a coin on it. Test: put a coin on the boat, float it, and time one minute. Does the test check the criterion?

Question 6

Criterion: the kite must stay in the air for ten seconds. Test: hold the kite up and look at its shape. Does the test check the criterion?

Back Next