Standardized testing is controversial but can have benefits. It aims to provide consistency in measuring student learning across schools. Supporters argue it predicts future success, provides feedback to improve teaching and learning, and creates accountability. However, critics note issues like cultural bias, misuse of results, and unequal test preparation. Overall the document concludes standardized testing, while imperfect, is a relatively inexpensive reform that can ultimately help raise student and teacher performance if its limitations are addressed.
Would you like to read more education research papers like the one summarized above on Educational Assessment issues? If so view more at: http://www.bestessayservices.com/blog/sample-education-research-paper-on-educational-assessment-issues/
Topic: Reporting Test Results to Parents
Student Name: Fatima Zohra
Class: B.Ed. (Hons) Elementary
Project Name: “Young Teachers' Professional Development (TPD)"
"Project Founder: Prof. Dr. Amjad Ali Arain
Faculty of Education, University of Sindh, Pakistan
This presentation was prepared for the Learning Media National Seminar for facilitators (April 2010). It explores the guidelines for reporting progress and achievement in relation to the national standards. It also looks at processes and practices to support effective reporting.
Would you like to read more education research papers like the one summarized above on Educational Assessment issues? If so view more at: http://www.bestessayservices.com/blog/sample-education-research-paper-on-educational-assessment-issues/
Topic: Reporting Test Results to Parents
Student Name: Fatima Zohra
Class: B.Ed. (Hons) Elementary
Project Name: “Young Teachers' Professional Development (TPD)"
"Project Founder: Prof. Dr. Amjad Ali Arain
Faculty of Education, University of Sindh, Pakistan
This presentation was prepared for the Learning Media National Seminar for facilitators (April 2010). It explores the guidelines for reporting progress and achievement in relation to the national standards. It also looks at processes and practices to support effective reporting.
This presentation depicts the importance of positive school and classroom data. The benefits of positive school and classroom data, and how schools can implement this strategy to create an engaging and conducive learning environment.
Research, policy and practice in widening participation: the evidence from A...johnroseadams1
The session will include a brief overview of the statistical trends in part-time admissions to HE, a presentation on the approaches used in Aimhigher to track learners and the impact of Aimhigher interventions on their progress and discussion of research methods and the uses of data for targeting.
Questions will be raised about the ways in which researchers and practitioners frame an oppositional discourse and could do things differently.
Discussion groups will include:
• Trend data in part-time applicants and entrants.
• Taking the evidence from Aimhigher - how could/does this translate into research?
• Making a difference in widening participation - the responsibilities of researchers and practitioners
This presentation depicts the importance of positive school and classroom data. The benefits of positive school and classroom data, and how schools can implement this strategy to create an engaging and conducive learning environment.
Research, policy and practice in widening participation: the evidence from A...johnroseadams1
The session will include a brief overview of the statistical trends in part-time admissions to HE, a presentation on the approaches used in Aimhigher to track learners and the impact of Aimhigher interventions on their progress and discussion of research methods and the uses of data for targeting.
Questions will be raised about the ways in which researchers and practitioners frame an oppositional discourse and could do things differently.
Discussion groups will include:
• Trend data in part-time applicants and entrants.
• Taking the evidence from Aimhigher - how could/does this translate into research?
• Making a difference in widening participation - the responsibilities of researchers and practitioners
Cooperation and communication for a new bicycle policyMobycon
A paper I wrote for the European Velocity 2007 cycling conference in Munich, Germany. It is about the importance of cooperation and communication when developing a (local) bicycle policy. Based on my personal experiences in my hometown Tilburg, Netherlands
Fietsveiligheid staat de laatste paar jaar weer flink in de belangstelling. Vallende ouderen met e-bikes en jongeren die hun smartphone op de fiets gebruiken zetten ons aan het denken over welke maatregelen er nodig zijn om het fietsen in Nederland verder veilig te maken en houden voor iedereen.
En ja, laten we het in dat kader maar eens hebben over fietsen en IT.
32 Ways a Digital Marketing Consultant Can Help Grow Your BusinessBarry Feldman
How can a digital marketing consultant help your business? In this resource we'll count the ways. 24 additional marketing resources are bundled for free.
Braun, H. (2004, January 5). Reconsidering the impact of high-stakes testing, Education Policy Analysis Archives, 12(1). Retrieved [Date] from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v12n1/.
Nichols, S. L., Glass, G. V, & Berliner, D. C. (2006). High-stakes testing and student achievement: Does accountability pressure increase student learning? Education Policy Analysis Archives, 14(1). Retrieved [date] from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v14n1/.
Supovitz, Jonathan. 2010. Is High-Stakes Testing Working? Penn GSE. Retrieved from http://www.gse.upenn.edu/review/feature/supovitz.
Braun, H. (2004, January 5). Reconsidering the impact of high-stakes testing, Education Policy Analysis Archives, 12(1). Retrieved [Date] from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v12n1/.
Nichols, S. L., Glass, G. V, & Berliner, D. C. (2006). High-stakes testing and student achievement: Does accountability pressure increase student learning? Education Policy Analysis Archives, 14(1). Retrieved [date] from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v14n1/.
Supovitz, Jonathan. 2010. Is High-Stakes Testing Working? Penn GSE. Retrieved from http://www.gse.upenn.edu/review/feature/supovitz.
The phrase "teaching to the test" commonly means the practice of using a state-mandated test as a guide in deciding what to teach and how to teach it. However, this simple definition understates the complexity of the issue. On one hand, teaching to the test can be a case of the tail wagging the dog, where the needs of the test becomes more important than the teaching. It can even indicate an attempt to subvert the testing process, to beat the system. But seen in a positive light, teaching to the test can describe purposeful efforts to teach students knowledge and skills that have been established as important and included in mandated standards and assessments.
Why has this become an important issue?
Almost every state now has mandated tests for students. More and more, test scores are used for accountability-to make decisions about school accreditation, staff job security or pay, and student promotion and graduation. As the tests have became more high-stakes, the practice of teaching to the test has also increased dramatically. School personnel want their students to succeed and show what they know on the tests, and they often feel pressure to use any means available to raise scores. However, while families and the general public are demanding higher standards and higher scores, there is increasing concern, sometimes very vocally expressed, that the time and effort spent teaching to the test is educationally shortchanging students.
What's wrong with teaching to tests?
There's nothing wrong with teaching the general content and skills included on a test, as long as the test is assessing the "right" things and asking students to demonstrate their knowledge in ways that parallel real-world applications. The problem often develops when a test does not match standards for what students should know and be able to do, covers a very narrow set of objectives from the broader base of knowledge and skills included in standards, or includes mostly items that focus on recall of isolated facts. In cases such as these, both experts and practicing educators fear that teaching to the test may:
- narrow or distort the curriculum;
- emphasize use of short-term over long-term memory;
- discourage creative thinking;
When is teaching to the test appropriate?
In general, the better the test, the more it can be used as a guide for good instruction. There is much less controversy about teaching to the test when the test itself:
- reflects solid content standards;
- assesses a broad range of knowledge and skills;
How can we teach to the test the right way?
- Legitimate teaching to the test is not instruction targeted at specific items that will appear on the test, or that appeared on last year's version. Instruction can, however, appropriately be targeted to the general content and skills that will be assessed.
Source: https://ebookschoice.com/teaching-to-the-test/
1. Has too much emphasis been placed on standardized
tests?
2. What is standardized
testing?
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a
consistent manner or “standard”. (SAT, ACT, FCAT, AP
EXAMS, ETC)
The tests came out of request from the public and parents for
two reasons:
to have an understanding of what it is we expect children to learn at various
ages of schooling.
to be confident in that indeed the children are learning
The government believes it is a valuable diagnostic tool that is
helping to improve student achievement.
3. THE fcat
In florida we have the FCAT or Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test
First administered in 1998
Given annually usually between late february - April
only for public school students grades 3-11
students results from the fcat are compiled to generate
a grade for the school.
schools receive a grade, from a-f
the higher the score the more funding the school receives
4. Why is standardized testing
controversial?
Controversy of:
cultural bias
misuse of standardized tests
the bias of authors of standardized test
inequality in preparation
5. Positives of standardized
testing
Predicting future success:
Standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT have been shown to be
effective in predicting a student's future performance in higher
education, in the military, and in the work force
The standardized SAT or ACT create a common national measure
that college admissions counselors rate as "a more reliable
measure than high school grade point average, extracurricular
activities, recommendations, essays, etc."
Eliminating the SATs would result in unintended, negative
consequences. A University of California study found that if the
University did not require SAT scores from prospective students,
they would have to raise their standard high school GPA to
unrealistic expectations just to balance out the admissions
process.
6. Positives of standardized
testing continued...
Making better students & teachers:
Standardized testing provides students with better feedback about
their own level of knowledge and skills.
It also helps students to associate personal effort with rewards
and motivates them to work harder in school. The testing and its
feedback send clearer signals to students about what they need to
study.
Standardized testing motivates teachers to work harder and more
effectively. They can better identify areas of strength and
weakness in their teaching plans and then can restructure them.
They can also identify what content was not mastered by students
and see which students have the greatest needs.
7. Positives of standardized
testing continued...
Providing accountability:
Accountability at the school level will encourage positive changes
such as the revision of district curriculum and testing programs
so that they become consistent with state curricula.
It also leads districts and schools to use their resources more
effectively
Results from standardized tests can help reallocate funds to
schools who performed well and deserve a reward, but also to
those schools most in need.
8. Conclusion
Testing is less expensive than many other
reform options.
The system of standardized testing may not be
perfect, but it's an effective approach that
will ultimately lead to the improvement of
school districts, teachers, and student
learning.