Sunday, November 16, 2008
Standarized tests
Standardized tests have many flaws and need to be adjusted. Although they are probably the most cost effective way to assess a school's success, they fail to accomplish that goal. I think one of the keys changes is to eliminate these tests in elementary schools and maybe middle schools. I think if the students don't fully understand what the tests mean, they won't fully engage in them. Many younger students think "Why should I try hard on this, this doesn't affect my grade?" I think only high school aged students can understand the true meaning of the greater good. Elementary and middle school need to be given alternative ways to assess the students and the schools. Possibly a more comprehensive assessment involving observing the students and teachers may be a more accurate judgement of how the students are progressing and how the school is performing.
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I tend to disagree with you a little bit. I think standardized tests are very biased instruments to measure students achievement. Over the summer I took an execeptioal education course, different from the one most people have taken, we dicussed the various ways tests were biased. For instance, they are culturally biased towards the white middle class. The professor gave examples of how biased the tests are. For instnace, the language or the test. Many students can not read very well, but yet may not the information. IF they can not express it, they are basically screwed. The professor gave another example of what materials were used to build homes. In the midwest, we would say brick or paneling, but what about someone from Africa.
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