Someone once asked, "Do test scores provide a reasonable measuring stick for our students as indicators for future successes?"
Although I don't administer these tests (since I work at a college), believe that tests and the processes in place aren't working and because of these tests most schools/teachers are teaching the test and not providing students with instruction that could benefit them later in life. Do we really want to produce a generation of test takers or problem solvers/innovators? Check out these sites...
http://fairtest.org/
http://susanohanian.org
http://alfiekohn.org
http://www.mothersagainstwasl.org/
Honestly there are some groups out there that are encouraging parents to opt-out on standardized testing. Sure its heresy... but you have to listen to the other side, to get the full picture.
http://educationrevolution.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/opting-out-of-nclb-two-reports-from-a-growing-movement/
http://educationintexas.blogspot.com/2005/12/colorado-school-district-opts-out-of.html
http://www.resultsforamerica.org/calendar/files/nclb_release.pdf
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13879371_ITM
Short answer..."No."
I'd like to hear your thoughts... So leave a comment.
If you'd like to be more engaged on these topics, feel free to join the "K20EDU-Arizona" Group on Facebook or feel free to follow me on twitter seanmendoza.
11 comments:
I would have to comment that I was never fond of standardized testing when I was in K-12. I never thought that it was very fair to test students on subjects of math, reading, and writing that were standard across the U.S because it never tested students real intelligence. I personally was not a good test taker even if I knew the material because I had severe test anxiety even at a young age because of the pressure and emphasis to do good on the tests. I along with other students never felt that it really determined my intelligence as a student and as a person...it didn't reflect who I was. Now as an adult and being out of the K-12 settings as a student I realize that it is one of the easier ways to test a mass amount of students and compare them to each other. I still don't think that it is fair to compare students across the states because the education systems and levels in each state differ. That's why I think the AIMS in AZ are a bit more successful in testing students.
Ay Ay Ay...what a complicated issue! I think people should consider what exactly are on these standardized tests...(and not just dismiss them because they test in "bulk" or test "general" material). There is a chance that if revised, assessment topics could very well be indicative of overall academic ability (to some degree).
I do not agree that standardized tests provide a stick to measure success for the future. Reason being is because when I was a student in K-12, I never took them serious, and instead bubbled in a Christmas tree, and as a result my scores were low. A couple years ago, I run into my elementary counselor who was surprised when I told that I had graduated from the UA, and only because the counselor based my academic performance on the test scores. As a former teacher, I support testing, but I do not agree they are indicator to the future nor should they be used to compare students from one district to the other. I encourage my students to do their best on the test, and further explain to them that tests are part of life.
I don't agree with standardized testing. It is a poor measurement of student's creativity. However, maybe technology can help in making a test individualized and test students intelligence.
I don't agree with standardized testing. It is a poor measurement of student's creativity. However, maybe technology can help in making a test individualized and test students intelligence.
This article appeared in the WSJ on 18 July 2009. It would seem to suggest the truism of "there are lies, damn lies and statistics". Take a look, this article will be available to the general public for up to 7 days after publication.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124786847585659969-email.html
I do not agree with standardized testing. As it does not measure their individual qualities.
Sean: thanks for the link to Alfie Kohn, I will be buying his dvd, Unconditional Parenting. I'm looking forward to having some good (some better) strategies to working WITH my kids to get them to do what I want.
Vanessa made a good point about standardized testing not measuring creativity. I think a well-rounded students would need to demonstrate these skills as well.
As long as adminsitrators and politicians disagree on what success is and how to gather that data, there will be standardized testing. We have made a lot of progress in terms of understanding motivation and learning. We have not translated that to how to meaasure success (because of a narrow definition of literacy & math skills) nor have we addressed what skills other than literacy and math are needed to be a successful society. Yes, reading and writing and math are important to understanding our lives and our world and to develop new systems, social and technical. Having said that, there are also other facets of being that positively affect the quality of life: such as creative, mechanical, athletic, spiritual abilities and skills. Our education system is not meeting all our needs and can't. That's why life-long learning, cultural and societal involvement are important. If we want stronger communities we all need to teach and learn.
i think like lou, a lot of us as kids (and ok, even in college) have resorted to making the prettiest picture with our bubbled-in answers as opposed to filling in the right answers. i never made a xmas tree like lou, but rather made up a song of abc (and d's) and just did whatever came naturally. it didn't get me far back then, and of course, i still dread the multiple-choice format of tests. glad to see you've come a long way, Lou.
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