The Edutopia Poll
by Sara Ring
We know the problems with assessment tests all too well: They encourage rote memorization of facts, employ outdated metrics, and compel educators to teach to the test rather than risk penalization should scores fall. Most alarmingly, although they focus on basic literacy and numeracy, these tests fail to appraise many of the skills critical for students in the twenty-first century, including creative thinking and problem solving across disciplines, teamwork, and technological literacy. Fortunately, educational organizations are developing solutions that move us past multiple-choice exams with too narrow a focus. Instead, these exams will ask students to use their knowledge in a variety of disciplines, testing them on what they understand, not simply what they've memorized. Students need many hands-on skills. Which one strikes you as particularly important to kids in the twenty-first century? We want to know.
Poll needs reworking
Submitted by Paul Pyatt (not verified) on April 13, 2008 - 16:06.
How can these options be an either or?
Surely this Poll only measures which answer is the most popular from a menu of equally important choices.
Lets throw out standardized testing (at leat 80%) of it and have PBL, Portfolios and assessment that is meaningful at a local level. Not untennable ideas spawned from some comfortable air conditioned offices with pot plants and layers of secretaries. Sumptously furnished and located in an an ivory tower where the policy makers trade rationality for profitability!
Baaaaa--Bahhhh Lets follow the "Sheeple"
What skill should standardized accountability tests emphasize?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 9, 2008 - 08:53.
We need our students to learn how to learn. Teach by example the love of learning.
For what are we testing? and why?
Submitted by Carol Cotsonis (not verified) on April 5, 2008 - 11:13.
The question, "What skill should standardized accountability tests emphasize?" seems to presume
1.that we should use standardized tests;
2. that they can assess accountability; and
3. that there is skill whose emphasis is somehow necessary. (I guess to demonstrate accountability?)
To me, this question points out the major flaws in this system that has been thrust upon us. Are we using standardized tests to measure learning, or to make teachers accountable for their productivity? Do the tests succeed at either of these tasks?
In my opinion, standardized tests are inaccurate measures of learning, and useless to make teachers accountable for anything other than teaching to the test. Instead, testing, if we must use it, should be used to uncover weaknesses in instruction. A teacher could then be made accountable for how well those weaknesses are addressed.
In every case, the measurement should not assume that all students at a particular age or grade level are at the same place cognitively, ready to learn the same skills, using the same schema. The skills measured should be those applicable to the student's abilities and educational goals.
How to accomplish this??? A miracle, I suppose.
Standardized testing
Submitted by Linda H (not verified) on April 4, 2008 - 17:45.
We need to be able to evaluate the whole person with more than just a snap shot it takes a movie. Zoning in one skill set does not help the child really see their potential. Elective teachers see this all the time. A student is failing one or more of their core classes, but excels in their elective class. It just means something valuable is not being tapped and it cannot be measured by multiple choice.
What skills can be measured?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 3, 2008 - 12:37.
I am not sure that a creativity and problem solving standardized assessment tool could be developed. I do know that as a nation we need to improve student achievement and ensure that all students have at the very least the basics under their belt. When students leave public schools, they should be equipped to make choices about their future without limits. They should know how to gather information, analyze it and come up with their solution through their own perspective.
Learning from testing
Submitted by Ryan (not verified) on April 3, 2008 - 10:35.
Some great comments--we need to begin seeing standards (and this form of "testing") as reflecting only a foundation upon which we build. They are not the achievement, they are minimums, the least expected. You don't test "thinking" but you have to be able to think to learn, to build a skills set, to read and reason, to develop good questions, to define the context. So we have a defunct view of accountability when we only reflect minimums--sort of like building codes. Codes don't reflect good construction practices, they are the absolute minimum necessary to be minimally competent.
What skill should standardized accountability tests emphasize?
Submitted by Tony LaMantia: Principal - Porter Elemntary School, Mesa AZ (not verified) on April 3, 2008 - 08:49.
One shot standardized tests are not very useful because they only measure what a child can produce on that given day. We all know the tremendous amount of varaibles that can influence those results. Frequent monitoring and quality made teacher assessments (if properly developed and implemented)are much more reliable in measuring the true "skills" students have mastered. At our school (Porter Elementary in Mesa, AZ) we emphisize, and put number, one the importance of teaching to and respecting the "Whole Child" Mind, Body, Heart and Spirit. Respectful and complete assessments should measure all four areas. We are not just "Brains On A Stick" which is how the current assessement model views our students. We are "Whole" unique, individuals. If we are to be held accountable to and for our student's progress and growth we need to be assessing their growth and development frequently with meaningful feedback in the areas of Mind, Body, Heart and Spirit. It is possible.
Standardized testing
Submitted by Ellen (not verified) on April 3, 2008 - 07:36.
If we have to have standardized testing, which is debatable at best, it should look to basic literacy and numeracy. Broad-based testing can't test well things like critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, organizational skills, etc. Those things can be assessed by teachers in classroom but standardized tests can't properly guage those skills.
What skill should standardized accountability tests emphasize?
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on April 2, 2008 - 14:59.
Responsibility and organizational skills!
Standardized testing is necessary
Submitted by Chuck Fellows (not verified) on April 2, 2008 - 12:35.
From Mark Twain:
"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know...
It's what we know for sure that just ain't so..."
We know for sure that standardized testing is necessary.....
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