Enriching Syllabi, Teaching and Testing Using Two-Step Problems

摘要

We present a method, two-step problems (TSP), which can enrich syllabi, assessment and teaching. TSP is consistent with other syllabus enrichment methods such as AFL, assessment for learning, and SLO, specific learning objectives. We show that TSP i) is operationally defined and easy to implement, ii) builds, in students, higher-level cognitive abilities such as executive function, iii) allows a teaching to the test that enhances, rather than restricts, curriculum, iv) can be applied to a spectrum of age levels, K-12 as well as university level, v) can be adopted in a variety of curriculum content situations, technical, literary, and mathematical and vi) is consistent with and enriches current syllabus improvement methods such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).