Testing

When providing instruction to children we are all about meeting the needs of each individual child.  We provide differentiated  instruction and look how each child has different learning styles.  Yet when it comes to assessment we tend to use standardized tests that may be controversial in nature.  Standardized tests did not accommodate different learning styles and they do not represent diversity among the children that take them.  Standardized tests now have high stakes attached to them.  Not only is it the only way most schools look at student achievement, teacher evaluations are now being attached to them. In my state the standardized tests known as Standards of Learning (SOL's) are given starting in third grade in various subject areas.  They continue in particular subjects in different grades from upper elementary school through middle school.  Then in high school in order to meet graduation requirements of today children not only have to pass the class but have to have verified credits.  A verified credit is passing the SOL test for the class. So a student can pass the class and fail the standardized test and not get the credit for the class.  I strongly feel this is not appropriate ways to measure either child progress or teacher performance.  The high stakes of standardized testing has changed the way we teach our children.  Teachers are now teaching to the test and children are not able to apply the skills that are being taught.  I see this every time my state changes a test within a subject area.  It hits the paper as "local school divisions' state testing  scores lower this year than the year before."  That is because the test has changed.  Once the test has been out a couple of years the headlines then say, "local schools are meeting or exceeding state standards."  This is because the teachers know what is on the test and can teach it so children pass.  It seems to me if we teach the content correctly, children should be able to apply the knowledge to any test.  This is the problem.  Instruction today is limiting children's abilities to be flexible thinkers, problem solvers and multi-taskers.  These skills are not being taught.  Children are learning test taking strategies instead.  If a child is unsure of an answer then use test taking strategies that have been taught to best determine the answer.  This is taking the place of working through a problem to find a solution. How is that measuring the students' knowledge of the content?  Due to the nature of testing today I see the academic push down.  Each grade level wants help in order to prepare the children to pass the tests.  So they are wanting the grade levels before them to teach the content earlier and earlier.  This is not developmentally appropriate and is not good for children.  Kindergarten today is what first grade use to be.    I am for student and teacher accountability, however there needs to be more appropriate ways to determine such accountability.  Ongoing comprehensive assessments, observations, and documentation of children's work can determine growth and learning in more appropriate and meaningful ways. 

I found it very interesting as looking at the high stakes of standardized testing, that in China children must take the multi- day test known as "gaokao" in order to get into college.  The results of this test is the only factor that is taken into consideration for going to college.  Children in China spend their entire life preparing to take this test.  I can't imagine that one would spend their whole life preparing for one test, and that one test will determine your future and pretty much how the rest of your life is going to play out.

Reference:

Huff Post Education. (2011). Education In China v. America: The Question of Standardized Tests. 

     Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/education-in-china-testing-diane-

     sawyer_n_785016.html