There is no doubt that the tension between what we actually teach- and want our students to learn- in our classroom and the requirements of standardized testing will become stretched to breaking point in the upcoming years, until something finally has to give. The reason for this? Quite simply, as technology becomes a larger and larger part of our classrooms, lives, and pedagogy, the current testing format becomes increasingly obsolete.
Knowing, however, that something must break in the future is of no help in the present; I love technology, I believe strongly in its pedagogic potential if corrently harnessed, and I am convinced that something special could be achieved with its use. However, as a teacher entering his first full year, I am aware that I can't afford for my students to do anything less than well on their standardized tests. So, what'll happen? I would imagine that we'll spend the majority of the year doing interesting things, then a few weeks teaching solely to prepare for the test. That's fine, I guess, but wouldn't it be great if they could be tested on all the exciting, fresh, wonderful activities we'd spend all year doing (which, after all, is what the government have decided our students need to be prepared for the 21st Century workplace anyway!)
Of interest, too, in the chapter read is the fact that standardized tests actually vary (sometimes considerably) from state-to-state. Given that, what's the point? In the UK, where I was educated, the system is entirely different, and in my opinion, preferable. But I'm a little tired right now and it's a long discussion to get involved in. Sorry! :)
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You are absolutely correct when you say a breaking point will soon be reached. Something has to give in this process because spending too much time on practicing and understanding standardized tests is a waste of valuable time. Lacking many important skills because they were briefly covered in class will leave students incapable of surviving the academic challenges in college. Don't misunderstand me either, standardized tests are a fairly good meter to test academic ability but if that is all you focus on in school then what are you really learning.
ReplyDeleteYou raise another interesting point about how standardized tests vary from state to state. Because tests do vary so much from state to state this means that it just because you are labeled "proficient" in New Jersey you might not be able to reach that same mark in New York for example.