Thursday, September 21, 2023

STANDARDIZED TESTING SUCKS

 

STANDARDIZED TESTING SUCKS

Larry Strauss Opinion contributor

Standardized testing sucks worse than a cheap vacuum cleaner. There, I said it. As a high school English teacher, I've seen firsthand how these tests have become a tyrant that sucks the life out of learning. It's time to stop prioritizing test scores over student learning and start focusing on what really matters.

Let's be real here, standardized tests only determine which students are good at taking tests. They offer no meaningful measure of progress and have not improved student performance. Instead, they measure a narrow range of skills and knowledge, leaving out important aspects like creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and social-emotional skills. It's like trying to judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree.

And let's not forget about the culture of teaching to the test that standardized testing creates. It reduces the quality and diversity of curriculum and instruction, leaving students bored and unchallenged. I mean, who wants to spend their days memorizing facts just to regurgitate them on a test?

But it gets worse. Standardized tests are racist, classist, and sexist. They reflect the biases and assumptions of the test developers, who are predominantly white, male, and affluent. This puts students from different cultural, linguistic, or socioeconomic backgrounds at a disadvantage. And don't even get me started on how they perpetuate stereotypes and discrimination against certain groups of students.

And let's not forget about how unfair standardized tests are as metrics for teacher evaluations. They don't account for the many factors that affect student learning and achievement, like poverty, family background, health, motivation, attendance, behavior, or prior knowledge. They also don't measure the many aspects of effective teaching, like rapport with students, classroom management, differentiation, or pedagogy. It's like trying to judge a chef on how well they can make toast.

But the worst part? Standardized test scores are not predictors of future success. They don't measure the skills and competencies that are essential for success in the 21st century, like creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, or teamwork. They limit students' opportunities and choices by narrowing their options or excluding them from certain programs or institutions based on their test scores. It's like trying to judge a bird on how well it can swim.

So what can we do to address the negative consequences of standardized testing? Well, for starters, we can reduce the number of tests students are required to take. We can use standardized test results in conjunction with other data, like teacher assessments and student portfolios, to make decisions about student progress and placement. We can provide more support to students who are struggling with standardized tests. And we can develop tests that are less biased against certain groups of students.

It's time to stop sucking the life out of learning with standardized testing. Let's focus on what really matters: student learning, excitement, and joy. Because let's face it, no one wants to spend their days being sucked dry by a cheap vacuum cleaner.

Schools' obsession with standardized testing is ruining education https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/09/21/test-scores-standardized-testing-bad-measure-education-learning/70856233007/ 


THE DEFT DIVE


FROM BARD AI

Standardized testing has been a part of the American education system for over a century. The first standardized test, the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, was developed in 1924. Since then, standardized testing has become increasingly important, with students now taking standardized tests at multiple grade levels and in multiple subjects.

The focus on standardized testing in American schools is due to a number of factors, including:

  • * **The rise of accountability:** In the 1990s, there was a growing movement to hold schools accountable for student performance. This led to the development of standardized tests that could be used to compare the performance of different schools.
  • * **The belief that standardized tests can measure student learning:** Standardized tests are designed to measure student learning in specific subjects. This belief is based on the idea that there is a common body of knowledge that all students should learn.
  • * **The pressure from colleges and universities:** Many colleges and universities require students to submit standardized test scores as part of their applications. This pressure has led to students taking standardized tests at a younger age and taking them more often.

The focus on standardized testing has a number of positive and negative consequences.

**Positive consequences:**

  • * Standardized tests can provide data that can be used to track student progress and identify students who may need additional support.
  • * Standardized tests can help to ensure that all students are learning the same core skills and knowledge.
  • * Standardized tests can help to prepare students for college and the workforce.


**Negative consequences:**

  • * Standardized tests can be stressful for students and can lead to test anxiety.
  • * Standardized tests can narrow the curriculum, as teachers may focus on teaching to the test.
  • * Standardized tests can be biased against certain groups of students, such as low-income students and students of color.
  • * Standardized tests can be expensive to develop and administer.

The focus on standardized testing in American schools is a complex issue with both positive and negative consequences. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of standardized testing before deciding whether or not to support their use.

**What can be done to address the negative consequences of standardized testing?**

There are a number of things that can be done to address the negative consequences of standardized testing, including:

* **Reduce the number of standardized tests that students are required to take.**

* **Use standardized test results in conjunction with other data, such as teacher assessments and student portfolios, to make decisions about student progress and placement.**

* **Provide more support to students who are struggling with standardized tests.**

* **Develop standardized tests that are less biased against certain groups of students.**

By taking these steps, we can help to reduce the negative consequences of standardized testing and ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed.


FROM BING AI

Standardized testing in American schools is a controversial topic that has been debated for decades. Some of the pros and cons of standardized testing are:

Pros:

  • - Standardized tests offer an objective measurement of education and a good metric to gauge areas for improvement. They assess students based on a similar set of questions, are given under nearly identical testing conditions, and are graded by a machine or blind reviewer. They are intended to provide an accurate, unfiltered measure of what a student knows⁵.
  • - Standardized tests offer meaningful data to help students in marginalized groups. They can reveal achievement gaps among different subgroups of students, such as racial/ethnic minorities, low-income students, English language learners, and students with disabilities. They can also hold schools accountable for providing quality education to all students and ensure that they receive the necessary resources and interventions⁵.
  • - Standardized tests are useful metrics for teacher evaluations. They can provide feedback to teachers on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as inform professional development and instructional decisions. They can also reward effective teachers with bonuses or recognition, and identify ineffective teachers who need improvement or dismissal⁵.
  • - Standardized tests scores are good indicators of college and job success. They can predict students' academic performance and readiness for higher education, as well as their potential for career advancement and earnings. They can also help students choose the best college or career path for them based on their interests and abilities⁵.

Cons:

  • - Standardized tests only determine which students are good at taking tests, offer no meaningful measure of progress, and have not improved student performance. They measure a narrow range of skills and knowledge, and do not capture students' creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, or social-emotional skills. They also create a culture of teaching to the test, which reduces the quality and diversity of curriculum and instruction. They have not led to significant improvements in student achievement or equity, as evidenced by the declining rankings of US students in international comparisons⁵.
  • - Standardized tests are racist, classist, and sexist. They reflect the biases and assumptions of the test developers, who are predominantly white, male, and affluent. They disadvantage students who come from different cultural, linguistic, or socioeconomic backgrounds, who may not be familiar with the test content or format. They also perpetuate stereotypes and discrimination against certain groups of students, who may face lower expectations or negative labels based on their test scores⁵.
  • - Standardized tests are unfair metrics for teacher evaluations. They do not account for the many factors that affect student learning and achievement, such as poverty, family background, health, motivation, attendance, behavior, or prior knowledge. They also do not measure the many aspects of effective teaching, such as rapport with students, classroom management, differentiation, or pedagogy. They can lead to unfair consequences for teachers, such as loss of autonomy, morale, or job security⁵.
  • - Standardized tests scores are not predictors of future success. They do not measure the skills and competencies that are essential for success in the 21st century, such as creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, or teamwork. They also do not account for the changing nature of work and learning in a globalized and digitalized world. They can limit students' opportunities and choices by narrowing their options or excluding them from certain programs or institutions based on their test scores⁵.

Bing, 9/21/2023

  • (1) Standardized Testing Pros and Cons - Does It Improve Education?. https://standardizedtests.procon.org/.
  • (2) History of Standardized Testing in the United States | NEA. https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/history-standardized-testing-united-states.
  • (3) Future of Testing in Education: Effective and Equitable Assessment .... https://www.americanprogress.org/article/future-testing-education-effective-equitable-assessment-systems/.
  • (4) Schools must give standardized tests this year, Biden ... - EdSource. https://edsource.org/2021/schools-must-give-standardized-tests-this-spring/649751.
  • (5) Prepare for U.S. Standardized Tests | EducationUSA. https://educationusa.state.gov/your-5-steps-us-study/research-your-options/graduate/prepare-us-standardized-tests.
  • (6) Pro and Con: Standardized Tests | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-standardized-tests.
  • (7) Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing - Part Two - NWEF. https://noahwebstereducationalfoundation.org/pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing-part-two/.
  • (8) Standardized Testing - Pros & Cons Part 1 - NWEF. https://noahwebstereducationalfoundation.org/pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing-part-one/.





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