How valuable is it to test your students to find out exactly how much they have absorbed?
The answer is that it is invaluable for both the teacher and the student. When a student attends class, but is really neither absorbing nor applying what the teacher is giving them in content, they will drift along feeling unsure and lacking in confidence with the end result of being an unhappy and unfulfilled student. For a lazy student, testing their knowledge might just be the motivation they need to work a little harder or at least to practice from time to time. For the motivated and passionate student, testing will serve to encourage their good work habits and build their confidence as dancers.
There are different ways that testing can be done. Some of the longstanding dance associations such as the Royal Academy of Dance and the Cecchetti Society have, since their inception, used examinations to grade students and enable them to advance. The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing regularly tests students on different styles of dance. Australia has the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing and the Australian Teachers of Dancing. What all of these organizations do is to train teachers to be knowledgeable in their craft and then to examine their students to help them to advance with good technique.
There are many 'schools of thought' on the idea of examinations. I personally have never found it to be a minus to enter students in examinations as long as they are well prepared. Some people feel that there is too much pressure put on students for formal examinations; however, it is generally the way that the idea is presented that makes the difference in whether there is acceptance or not from both parents and students. Testing—in whatever form it is used—will definitely lead to higher standards of technique and performance. Competitions are a way of testing your students’ ability and knowledge. Preparing your students for any competition involves learning a routine or variation and honing it by constant repetition, aiming for perfection. Casual testing in classes is a great way to prepare your students to advance. There are many reward systems that you can use such as certificates, trophies, prizes and, of course, the most important reward of all, peer recognition.
I like to give surprise tests in my classes. Sometimes that element of surprise really helps you gauge exactly how much knowledge your students are getting from your classes and very often this will affect my class plans, helping me tailor them to that class’s specific needs. Sometimes I will give a verbal test and at other times I will ask the students one by one to execute a step or series of steps that I have used in class. The tests do not need to be a nightmare—again it really depends how you present them. The key is to make them fun and to engage the students with the idea that the more knowledge they have the better dancers they will be and the more joy they will get out of their dancing. It is exciting when you see that a student really understands and is able to put into practice the technique and ideas that you have been teaching them.
One important point to remember: Failure is a part of testing! I try to teach my students about failure and the ability that we all have to learn from our failures. Some of the most famous and brilliant people have had numerous failures before they found success. Failure is often necessary to raise our standards and to project ourselves forward. It rests on the teachers to be able to show our students that they can 'fail forward' in a positive way or fail backward in a negative way. As always, keeping your students in a positive frame of mind and constantly showing them where they can excel is our job and a very rewarding part of it when we see their progress.
Breaking down the fear of testing can only be helpful to your students, so the more you do it, the less fear they will have and the end result will be gratifying both to you, their teacher, and to them as students.
