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Standardised testing - is it worth the trouble?
- 1. Date: Version: Standardised tests – are they worth the trouble? A panel discussion webinar 13 November, 2017 1.0
- 2. About ASG The Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) is a member owned organisation, helping to create educational opportunities for children. For more information visit: www.asg.com.au
- 3. Panellists Dr Julie Rimes Adjunct Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania Sophie Fenton Founding Educator and Principal of Sandridge School, VIC Carolyn Elliott Award-winning principal of Doncaster Gardens Primary School, VIC Meth Prathapasinghe Year 11 student of Melbourne High School Allen Blewitt Deputy Chairman of ASG and moderator of the panel discussion
- 4. Does testing encourage focus on certain subjects at the expense of others? Why talk about standardised testing? So we can get answers to these questions: Does testing marginalise alternative visions of education? Does standardised testing encourage ‘teaching to the test’? Does academic achievement in standardised tests help students in higher classes?
- 5. The OECD The OECD wields huge powers over the world of education
- 10. Types of standardised tests • NAPLAN • ICAS (University of New South Wales) – Range of Literacy, Numeracy, Science and ICT • Probe • Cars and Stars (reading) • Torch Reading • On Demand • PAT Maths and English
- 11. Disadvantages of testing • Can be seen as the only measure of success • Cohorts of children can be disadvantaged i.e. Non English speaking, the medium used • Pressure can be placed on children • Snapshot in time • Only covers a small amount of content – can be quite narrow • Adaptive vs. non-adaptive • Tests knowledge rather than skills • When done repeatedly can lose motivation • Types of responses can impact result • Time limited can be a factor in result • Pressure and resulting issues can be intense
- 12. How are we judged?
- 13. Do we test the way it was done or the result we achieved? • If we lose sense of what it is to be a learner, we can lose sense of what it is to be a teacher
- 14. Too often it is the result, not the how
- 15. Benefits of standardised testing • Benchmark of standards • Measure for schools of areas being covered well / not as well • Target areas for improvement • Measurement of growth over time • Provides diagnostic information • Can be combined with other forms of assessment to create an overall picture • Measures against a standard i.e. State mean • Can be done quickly • Can identify gaps • Pre testing identifies what is already known and therefore enables teaching to the point of need • Exposure to pressure
- 16. Examples of standardised tests • NAPLAN (country standardised) • SATs (US standardised) • In-school exams (school standardised) • Class tests (class standardised) • VCE / HSC / WACE etc. final exams (state standardised)
- 17. Purpose of standardised testing • Predict student performance – Selective school shortlisting • Evaluate school/teaching effectiveness • Determine strengths and weaknesses • Rank students based on ability
- 18. Does it help?
- 19. What teachers feel about standardised tests...
- 20. Teachers who feel that the amount of testing in Australian schools is just right • 61% of teachers in faith based schools • 45% of private school teachers • 42% of government school teachers Source: ASG-ACE Teachers Report Card 2017
- 21. What else do teachers feel about standardised tests? • 48% believe the focus at their school is more on standardised tests • 66% of teachers in leadership positions think that the focus is more on supporting development than standardised testing Source: ASG-ACE Teachers Report Card 2017
- 22. Questions? Write to us at ASGCommunications@asg.com.au
- 23. Watch a recording of the webinar at http://bit.ly/2z23xYn