What approach should be taken for open response questions for students?

The appropriate approach for open response questions for students involves connecting their strengths and needs to specific objectives and explaining the effectiveness of the activities they engage in. This method emphasizes the importance of individualized understanding, allowing educators to see how each student's unique background influences their learning experience.

By making these connections, educators can tailor their instruction to better support each student’s growth, ensuring they address both areas of need and opportunities for enhancement. This approach not only demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the student’s capabilities but also provides insights into how well the learning activities align with educational objectives.

In contrast, focusing solely on theoretical knowledge does not account for the practical application required to meet student needs in real-world contexts. Providing vague, general instructions would lead to confusion and insufficient guidance, hindering students' abilities to articulate their thoughts effectively. Similarly, relying exclusively on standardized tests limits the assessment to a narrow scope of skills, overlooking the broader competencies that open response questions can reveal.