The articles for this week focused on standardized testing and how they are used. We are very familiar with standardized testing because the government has been administering them since we were in grade school. They often come in different forms some on the computer and others with booklets. There is a lot of pressure put on students to do well in order to be deemed as academically “intelligent.” But are they really measuring intelligence or are they measuring how much information a student can retain? In the article, “Classroom Assessment of Literacy Growth and Content Learning,” Brozo and Simpson claim “experts have suggested that standardized tests are only a gross estimate of a student’s learning ability” (2007).
Now, let’s think about why some teachers and professionals may think that standardized testing can be helpful. Watch this youtube video https://youtu.be/IECN0Tfxmd4
How do you feel about standardized tests? What has your experience been like taking them? Are they more helpful or hurtful to student success?
In “Racial Justice is not a Choice,” focuses on how we can change assessments to reflect the students skill level and improvements individually. They speak in depth about restorative and transformative assessment. Au argues that standardized testing contributes significantly to the “achievement gap” in the United States. These kinds of assessments punish students that are from low-income neighborhoods and minority students more than students that are wealthy and white. There has been little to be done about this problem, but Au suggests changing the assessment types, and allowing the student to take more control of their education. How could you attempt to make assessments or activities more culturally responsive and more focused on personal development?
I always tested well, so I never had much of my own personal anxiety with them. However, I remember how much my teachers would stress about the importance of these tests and would prep us vigorously. I remember spending a lot of time just even learning how to take the test instead of learning content. And that is all the standardized testing does, assesses how well students can take an exam, not how much they can apply what they know. The video made some good points, the students' futures demand standardized tests, so we should be preparing them. It's also good to have a basic idea of where students stand amongst each other, but that should be all the test is worth, an idea. And all I have said doesn't even begin to touch on the ways this puts impoverished kids at a huge disadvantage. I just feel like overall, it hurts the motivation and intentions of the educational system under the guise of being helpful.
ReplyDeleteStandardized testing is sadly not going to leave any time soon. I remember back in elementary school taking the ISAT exams, and the amount of stress put on us as children being told this determines where you may go to high school. Then that inevitably can effect where you go to college. It really is an unfair judgement of how smart a student is. I for one, am a terrible test taker when it comes to multiple choice exams. I tense up and will completely blank out on everything that I knew prior. However, when it comes to prompt exams I usually excel cause you really can just write down what you know. That format I always found better as it does not trick students like multiple choice, and graders are forced to read your full response to judge it. Overall, I think standardized testing does more harm than good. If you were able to retake an exam it would help, however outside of the ACT and SAT you usually are only able to take it once. That is completely unfair to a student who may be sick, or just has way too much on their mind that day to actually take a standardized test. I also agree that these tests really do harm students who may not be from a high income "good" neighborhood. They may have not been given the same tools to succeed as other students and are faulted for it. In cases like the ACT etc. it harms them more cause they may not be able to retake the 4 or 5 times that students from high income areas can. I think that standardized testing needs to change to actually view a students analytical skills, rather than the facts they forget the second they walk out the door. If their was a way to judge how they can analyze a primary source for instance rather than bubble B on the scantron, it will allow teachers to see if they are actually learning the skills that they need in order to succeed which is just as important as the content. Also, you can not do standardized testing the same way for all subjects. Science is different than history, yet they are both standardized which is wrong as well.
ReplyDeleteCharles, I appreciate that you brought up how the ACT score can benefit students that come from a higher income household. They are more likely to have more ACT aids, tutoring, and more opportunities to take the test. For these reasons, I believe that the ACT is not a good indicator for college readiness, but it seems that the ACT has become one of the main scores used to accept students to a university. The education system in the U. S. should change what the ACT actually tests and how much weight it has on college acceptance.
DeleteLike Jack I have always been a good test taker. I would prep but not as extensively as some of my peers but, like all of us, We have seen the effects of it on our friends who haven't tested well. I believe that standardized testing is more hurtful for our students than helpful. The video states that it helps accountability but It also just deters students from school in general. If a student gets a low grade like in the ACT it labels them as a failure. We need to treat students more than just a score. Just because a student received a 19 on the ACT does not mean that they aren't smart. It shouldn't impact their ability to get into a good University.
ReplyDeleteFor myself, testing has always has been hit or miss. I have never been someone who struggled with pre-test anxiety. There is obviously pros and cons to standardized testing. My school dropped it's whole curriculum for a couple of weeks just to prep us for the SAT. Every class was intent on us bettering ourselves for the test and did not touch material for the actual class, if they did it was very slight. I believe this was a huge oversight for our school but at the same time I understand to a point with my school being so small and needing all the funding we could get as Standardized testing is one of the factors that determines the aid the state gives schools (Michigan). I do believe, agreeing with Juan, that it shows accountability for both students and the school that the students reside. My opinion however is against most standardized testing. Just because does not score high on their test does that mean they are not capable of succeeding. There should be testing on more areas that are important to be successful such as, creativity, social skills, etc..
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