In this week's reading, we focus on Standardize testing and how it is used and set up with a so-called "Norm group." These "norm groups" are a large group of students who represent students who the test should be "intended for" and it is then transformed into a standard score. Do you think using a "norm group" is the best way to approach standardized testing? or should there be more "norm groups"' or no "norm groups" for every different school in the district? The reason for this is because depending on who took the test (It does say the test is taken from students who it is intended for, but what kind of students is it for students like me who went to a low performing school) maybe it was a group of students in a district with like 5 schools and they are ranked from best to last. The best school is where they grab the group of students to be the "norm group". The kids in the other schools who might have less funding and help to achieve those type of scores might be less likely to be average once they standardize the scores to make it easier to achieve (What I mean by this is when they standard the scores say the norm group they all scored around 80 they would consider that average and those who scored less are not where the "norm group" is and those who score better are better than the "norm group") but even so, you think it's fair to judge a student based on another student who might have been more prepared to take the test or maybe the other way around too?
Do you think we should even have standardized testing? (I understand it is used to help teachers to learn where the student is when learning and how they can help improve them in whatever subject or focus they are lacking) In some other countries like Finland, Sweden, and Japan they don't have standardized tests. They also don't hold teachers accountable compared to the U.S. I understand that countries like that don't have a population like ours and are different in every way, but do you think it's possible to try and have an education system like the U.S and theirs combined to create a new system? Or do you have any other ideas on how we should test students that don't put so much stress on them and don't compare them to one another?
Do you think standardized tests stop students from creative thinking?
(I personally think standardize tests are good, but also bad when it is used for competition with other schools only when it is used to help improve students in their education to see what they are having a hard time with, but not an hour-long test it has to be a new test or system to help see how the student are when it comes to their learning.)
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ReplyDeleteThe notion of creating a norm group and relying on standardized testing does create many fallacies within a school system. With a reliance on scores, schools systems nurture an environment of competition. Schools, even students themselves, serve as numbers as opposed to people receiving an education.
ReplyDeleteNorm groups should be reinstated, instead developing a system that spreads educational values.
ReplyDeleteStandardized tests are important, but their significance in the lives of students should not be what it is. It’s sink or swim when it comes to standardized testing performance, often times undermining strong efforts put in by students of all ages. It also creates unnecessary pressure and anxiety.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that tests do not stop creative thinking. It certainly undermines that notion and it definitely puts a stop to the idea of thinking anything else.
ReplyDeleteI think standardized tests are certainly damaging to students. As explained in great detail by Wayne Au, these tests were initially meant to promote white superiority in academics, and to this day the tests bring consequences to low performing schools, which tend to have students of color and immigrants. Also, as you mentioned, it is very difficult to define what should be a norm group in education. Not everyone has the same opportunities when it comes to their education, so what could be considered the norm in one community, can be seen as below average or exceptional in another. However, to answer your question of can there be another way of testing students, that is a very difficult answer. As the Brozo-Simpson reading states, it is a very convenient and cost efficient way to test students, and is a quick way to see results. I believe that once public schools and the education of minorities are fixed first, the standardized tests will become less of an issue.
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