Standardized
testing, data collection, and comparative studies of educational
achievement in various countries is a major issue in education. In
the article “A Better Way to Evaluate Students and Schools”, Monty
Neill, interim director of Fair Test, discusses three, primary, issues
that may account for the discrepancies between countries’ test scores.
1. “Large-scale tests. Many nations with better and more equal education outcomes test only one to three time before high school graduation and avoid multiple choice questions.” (Strauss) Students in these countries are encouraged to focus on quality, well thought out, and well written responses. Schools are not concerned with the quantity of correct responses but the quality of the material they receive.
2. “Local and classroom evidence of learning. If you want to find out what kids know and can do, look at their actual work. This what many other countries do.” (Strauss) Countries that score well tend to focus on the classroom to ensure that they assess research projects, oral presentations, and other types of practical application.
3. “School quality reviews. The SQR is the central tool for school evaluation in places such as England and New Zealand. Their systems focus on a comprehensive school review by a team of qualified professionals every four to five years.” (Strauss) This action not only identifies student ability and classroom environments but it provides feedback to allow schools to improve.
1. “Large-scale tests. Many nations with better and more equal education outcomes test only one to three time before high school graduation and avoid multiple choice questions.” (Strauss) Students in these countries are encouraged to focus on quality, well thought out, and well written responses. Schools are not concerned with the quantity of correct responses but the quality of the material they receive.
2. “Local and classroom evidence of learning. If you want to find out what kids know and can do, look at their actual work. This what many other countries do.” (Strauss) Countries that score well tend to focus on the classroom to ensure that they assess research projects, oral presentations, and other types of practical application.
3. “School quality reviews. The SQR is the central tool for school evaluation in places such as England and New Zealand. Their systems focus on a comprehensive school review by a team of qualified professionals every four to five years.” (Strauss) This action not only identifies student ability and classroom environments but it provides feedback to allow schools to improve.
The
way that countries acquire and report data and student growth varies
greatly and affects how that data should be interpreted.
If you would like to know more about Fair Test you can visit: http://www.fairtest.org/
References:
Strauss, Valerie. (2010, June 24). A Better Way to Evaluate Students and Schools. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/standardized-tests/a-better-way-to-evaluate-stude.html
No comments:
Post a Comment