The standardized testing debate has been going on for a long time and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon or any conclusion reached either. Amanda, who commented on my blog post, made some really good points. It seems that the standardized test are just data collection tools that students do not see the importance of. They are used as “weapons” against teachers so the teachers care more about the test that the students who do not seen any purpose for them unless they are motivated by their score. Those students who are from certain family backgrounds or low socioeconomic status are not going to be motivated by their score as they are not motivated by grades so why should they do well on this test that means absolutely nothing to them. What if the test were used to identify the gaps and determine course placement for the coming year or who needed to be pulled out for additional assistance so they could make up the gaps. In my former district we began using the Iowa Assessment Data to determine who would be placed in a Second Chance Reading course. Students began to take the test very seriously rather than be put in a reading course. More than anything it shows to the students that these test are important and we are using these to identify skills gaps and then helping those students close the gaps.
I do believe that standardized testing can have a place I am just not sure we are using the testing correctly at this point.
No comments:
Post a Comment