One of the effects of the increased number and heightened stakes of standardized tests is that the roles played by teachers have changed. Specifically, teachers’ institutional tasks have increased because they are expected to take up work related to testing in addition to their regular teaching duties.
Institutional tasks include:
• collecting, organizing, and analyzing data associated with tests
• grouping and regrouping students according to test performance
• developing vertical articulation of the curriculum to align with tests
• coordinating students’ assignments, based on test scores, to remedial programs As a result of spending more time on institutional tasks like these, teachers have less time for instruction in their own classrooms. One study found
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Research shows, for example, that GED recipients perform about as well as high school graduates on standardized tests but have much worse life outcomes because they often lack important qualities such as curiosity, conscientiousness, perseverance, and sociability. ELA teachers could help more students develop these so-called “soft skills” or non-cognitive abilities if they didn’t have to focus on drills for tests. Instead, ELA teachers have to, for instance, cut back on large-scale projects that require perseverance, reduce the number of literary texts that engender the empathy necessary to sociability, and limit opportunities for developing student curiosity. Student learning that could lead in positive directions is diminished when tests prevent teachers from helping students develop the noncognitive abilities that support better life outcomes.
Another limitation on student learning results from the negative perceptions standardized tests can give to students about themselves and their own abilities.
Standardized testing has become a very controversial topic amongst the nation. There are two sides, one that agrees that these tests are doing well for students and school officials, and another that argues that these tests are hurting the students taking them and should be put to a stop. Norman R. Augustine wrote an article for the need of standardized testing, and Jessie B. Ramey States the ways that the tests are impairing the learning capability of the students. Norman uses three arguments that people opposing the standardized test would most often use.
In order for teachers to do their jobs, they need educational tools. However, in many large school districts, they “lack important teaching tools, such as computers and up-to-date textbooks” (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012). As a result of this, teachers are held accountable for the success/failure of standardized test. On the upside, both jobs are generally independent work without the supervision of a higher ranking individual within the field.
In January 1998, Public Agenda found that 66% of college professor said “elementary and high school expect students to learn too little.” After a surge in
Standardized testing ugh. The absolute worst part of school. Testing is so dreadful because it’s time consuming, forget consuming it’s devouring, teachers and students don’t get the graded test back fast enough, and last but definitely not least students already have to study for classroom test weekly now you want to overload their brains! This why I am against standardize test. These test have a desire to devour classroom time and brain capacity.
Several studies have found that teachers will often place their focus on teaching to those kids who are most likely to pass the tests disadvantaging those students who need it just as much, if not more than the other students. Children who are the primary focus are called “’bubble kids’ because they are on the bubble of passing the test or moving up to the next performance level” (Madaux, Russel 27). One teacher in Texas explains her bubble kids as, “The ones who miss by one or two points-they just need a little extra help to pass so we concentrate our attention on that group. The bubbles are the ones who can make it” (Madaus, Russel 27).
Material on the standardized tests can be worded in a way a student how never seen it, because they teacher never put it that way. The questions could have words in it that the student doesn't know what it means. That would just throw the student all the way off. It’s hard to learn something one way and be tested, it a completely different way. Most schools use standardized tests which are easier to score.
Unfortunately, standardized testing only gives a rough estimate of what a student can do or knows. It is impossible to tell if a student will improve, or even tell if the student just guessed on all of their answers for the test. This explains how standardized tests do not measure the correct information that school’s are actually searching
It creates an obsession with test scores as a chief “accountably” metric for students, educators and schools. This system has led to the exams becoming an end instead of a means to an end. For instance, according the Joh Holt, within the learning environment “the air practically vibrates with suspicion and anxiety, the child learns to live in a daze, saving his energies for those small parts of his life that are too trivial for the adults to bother with, and thus remain his.” (E) This represents the crucial and harsh environment students experience when facing tests. It puts unnecessary stress on the minds of students and degrades their self worth into nothing.
Introduction Standardized tests may be used for a wide variety of educational purposes. For example, they may be used to determine a young child’s readiness for kindergarten, identify students who need special-education services or specialized academic support, place students in different academic programs or course levels, or award diplomas and other educational certificates. Thesis Statement Standardized tests should not be eliminated completely, but should rather be evaluated in addition to other factors such as grades, extracurricular activities, and volunteer hours. This would take pressure off of students during standardized tests, allow colleges to see how well-rounded the students are, and give students who are better in other areas
There is a doctor, Thomas Armstrong, that focuses on youth development, and he believes that standardized tests don’t help or let anyone, whether it’s teachers or students, improve. He wrote that “Standardized tests don’t provide any feedback on how to perform better. The results aren’t even given back to the teachers and students until months later, and there are no instructions provided by test companies on how to improve these test scores” (Armstrong). Since the test companies of standardized tests don’t give feedback to teachers and students, it is impossible for them to know what they need to work and improve upon. If students can’t improve their scores, they are stuck either staying in the same spot or downgrading in the education system.
A friend’s party, recess, and qualifying for the sports team are a few of the common factors that revolve around a child’s life. Unfortunately, the list doesn’t include education. Administering standardized tests will aid in amending the remissness in our future generation of career professionals. Due to the fact that standardized testing provides an opportunity of change from a world of fantasy into a reasonable one, this method should be enforced throughout the nation.
The tests are ineffective because they don’t measure all of what the students know, and what is important. The text stated, “Standardized Tests are IQ tests from one-hundred years ago. They are outdated.” Some reasons to why Standardized Tests are ineffective are that they don’t measure student’s creativity, and they make students feel they aren’t smart. In the 1950’s they only tested every two years.
10). Those who come from different educational backgrounds or possess different learning styles require distinct approaches in teaching that a standardized gauge of knowledge does not allow. In addition to these inaccurate measurements, standardized testing does not provide useable information to teachers. Effective assessments should gather feedback that teachers can use to the benefit of students, such as insight into a student’s way of learning and thinking ("Standardized Testing Has Serious Limitations." para. 10).
These people see standardized testing as inaccurate and a false way of measuring academic achievement. That is only a few of the many things seen as cons for standardized testing. Along with that the tests fail to measure such important aspects such as creativity and critical thinking skills. Studies indicate that standardized tests reward superficial thinking and might discourage more interpretive thinking. Next, as a result of the small fragment of knowledge that is tested, standardized tests capture a incomplete picture of student achievement.
Testing At It’s Worst Standardized testing in not as amazing as it is proclaimed to be too all the students and schools around the country in today 's society”Standardized testing has swelled and mutated,like a creature in one of those old horror movies. ”(Kohn 1). The amount of testing that is going on in the united states is some of the highest rating in regards to how much they test and to the degree in which they test.