Which is more important - that a student demonstrates knowledge of the material presented in a course, or that the student completes the...

I find
myself looking for balance. If a student understands the material, he/she should be able to do
well on tests. It is certainly true that many students play a game of chance when they are
bright enough to retain what they hear and test well, while doing no homework at all. Many of
these kids are good at this game, and are happy with C's.

Unless homework is
weighted more than test grades, it's hard to battle this kind of educational
"strategy."

I also know some students struggle with test anxiety.
My own daughter, in high school now, experiences text anxiety, but only with Scantron and
standardized tests. The format of all the bubbles makes scatters her ability to focus. I used to
think this was an excuse with some kids, but my daughter is bright and not looking for sympathy
(she'd never tell her teacher) or a free ride. (As she continues to grow, I
learn to look differently at teaching.)

For the student who struggles with
testing, maybe a verbal test can be given, he/she should be tested for learning disabilities,
etc., or a test (in terms of regular class tests) be given with answers placed on the test or on
a blank piece of paper. This can take care of anxiety issues.

Homework
provides students with practice that reinforces what is being taught in school. However, it also
asks students to often use higher level skills and answer questions that are more meaningful
than something measured by an incorrect or correct answer.

Some kids can
skate with this. Others won't or cannot because of test grades. And still others won't (God love
them) because they demand it of themselves or their parents demand it of them.

I do believe that both are important.