Examinations Reform In The Process Of Cultivating Innovative Teachers

First, this thesis illustrates theoretically the basis of understanding that the aim of examinations reform is to cultivate innovative teachers. This century is full of competition and challenge. The key point of competition is talents, especially good-quality innovative talents. The cultivation of such talents depends on education, which in turn hinges on teachers. Therefore, the cultivation of innovative talents needs innovative teachers. Teachers colleges/universities, whose historical duty is to cultivate and deliver teachers for schools of various levels, are expected to aim at cultivating innovative teachers. Innovative teachers refer to teachers who intend to develop students' abilities in " knowledge transfer", abilities to use what they've learned to solve problems, exploring and creating spirits. The student teachers are expected to have virtuous morality, strong innovation concepts and creation abilities, scientific knowledge structures and researching abilities. To cultivate such teachers, teachers colleges/universities need responding education and teaching system, among which examinations are an essential part. So the ultimate aim of examinations should be to cultivate innovative teachers.Secondly, the thesis has surveyed systematically the present situation of examinations in teachers colleges/universities and analyzed its negative influence on the cultivation of innovative teachers. The researcher has surveyed 900 students in four teachers colleges in Sichuan Province (Sichuan University of Arts and Science, Neijiang Teachers College, Leshan Teachers College and Yibin Teachers College). The survey shows that there is something in the present examinations inconsistent with such aim as cultivating innovative teachers. First, the examination contents and question types are not enough and the examination forms are not varied. Secondly, when students are evaluated, scores are emphasized but abilities are belittled, and more importance is attached to results than to processes, which has strengthened the utilitarianism of examinations. Thirdly, after the examinations, both teachers and students neglect analyzing and summarizing students' performances in the examinations, which affect the diagnosing function of examinations. Fourthly, cheating on examinations can't be prohibited completely, instead it has the trend of getting more serious. The existence of such problems goes against the cultivation of good qualities of innovative teachers.Finally, the thesis thinks about the examinations reform. Aiming at these problems, the researcher pointed out that examinations in teachers colleges/universities should follow the principles of being scientific, developing, innovative and varied. And then the researcher brings forward concrete measures of examinations reform. In the first place, scientific concept of examinations needs establishing. In the second place, scientific examination models need establishing. For example, open-book examinations can be combined with close examinations; paper-based tests, oral tests, term papers and experimental / practical operations can be combined; and quizzes in normal times and final examinations are combined; the design of examination papers should be scientific and standard and the questions in the examinations should be explained and the students' performances should be analyzed after the examination. Thirdly, the comprehensive qualities of teachers have to be improved; and finally, the management system of schools needs amplifying.