Overhoringen

Overhoringen are a form of oral assessment used in education, in which a teacher asks a student or a small group questions to determine knowledge, understanding, and the ability to articulate responses. The practice is especially common in Dutch educational settings, including primary and secondary schools, and is also found in some higher education contexts.

Implementation typically occurs after completing a topic or unit. Sessions can be conducted individually or in small groups, with the teacher selecting questions that cover core concepts and skills. Some overhoringen follow a structured set of predetermined questions, while others are more open-ended and adapt to the student's answers. The aim is often formative: to provide immediate feedback, identify gaps, and encourage active recall and verbal expression. In some cases, overhoringen serve as a summative check within a broader assessment framework.

Advantages of overhoringen include quick feedback, the ability to assess understanding beyond written work, encouragement of participation, and the development of oral communication skills. They can also reveal misconceptions that may not be evident in tests with written answers.

Disadvantages include potential student anxiety and stress, subjectivity in scoring, time consumption, and the risk of privileging students with strong speaking abilities over those who struggle with performance under pressure. Critics argue that overhoringen can disadvantage learners with language barriers, speech difficulties, or differing communication styles. In contemporary curricula, they are often supplemented or replaced by a broader mix of assessments, including written tests, portfolios, and structured projects, while retaining their role in certain classrooms and disciplines.