Observable Learning?

We can observe when learning takes place in student. 

But there is no 100% guarantee that the student has learned.

Yes, we can ask a student to tell us what they learnt and such but it is quite possible that the student only learnt through substitution. What I mean is that they only learn by replacing certain things in their learning environment.

Take math for example. A student can understand through equations and such and be a magician when it comes to solving equations.  But if you give them a real life situation, the chances are they might stumble.  This is purely due to the fact that in a classroom setting there is a stigma of assessment.  Pen and paper assessment is a type of observation and students can show you through the tests that they have learnt the material.  

In my own experience, I have learned subject material in terms of understanding and increase my knowledge on the subject.  Yet, when it comes to testing where my prof would observe if I learned or not, I perform poorly. 

In my opinion I learned a lot through reading the textbook but in the perspective of the professor I may seem like a student who does not know what he's talking about.

I think we should not just observe. We should rather engage with the student.

Teachers know what students don't know and are not good at whatever component through the use of tests.

I think teachers should engage students through what they actually know.

In one of my Educ classes, my prof brought up how there are a lot of teachers that are doing the 

"GOTCHA!" style of quizzing where it does not prove anything be what the student does not understand through learning.  Like what is the use of having kids stress over a random pop quiz?

We should focus what they know and improve them on what they are not understanding and not take advantage of what they lack.  

Also, with the way how current education is, there are so many things that we learn in elementary and high school are not exactly crucial.  Teachers get stressed out when students do not understand Point A and forget that students are exceptional at Point B.

Evaluation is not just about marks. Education is not memorization it is understanding.