Students are not statistics
Joy Resmovits reported on a troubling study by the National Counsel for Teacher Quality (NCTQ). The group analyzed 180 education schools to "see how effectively and coherently they teach prospective teachers the skills associated with using test data to improve student learning". Only six out of the 180 schools included in the study passed.While the article alluded to the pervasive culture of standardized testing in schools, it did not question this system of student, teacher, and school assessment. Why should test data analysis be added to the long list of skills of a successful teacher? It is a waste of time and resources, especially since most teachers have basic statistical training as part of their certification. This advanced training focuses on using test data to improve student learning. Read that again. Are you kidding me? A teacher should never have to consider how Billy's reading score in first grade will affect the results of his third grade standardized test.
The teacher should be focused on helping him choose books with characters that he loves and being more confident reading out loud. The teacher should be focused on making sure that his unexpected bloody nose doesn't make a mess on Sherita's desk. The teacher should be so focused on creating a good learning environment that the test scores do not enter her mind.
Teachers only focus on standardized test scores because it affects their income and job security - not because the scores inform daily teaching practices. Nor are theses tests meant to, ask the test developers. Somewhere along the line, policy makers decided it was a good idea to make high-stakes decisions based on a single standardized test score. Instead of realizing the faulty logic and ending the testing culture, they are exaggerating it by requiring teachers to interpret these scores and translate them to student learning. I say, "Stop this nonsense!"
And it seems like the other 174 schools agree.
Currently chewing on (Food for thought):
Is there nobody in test development speaking out against the testing culture in schools today?
Hey Aubree,
ReplyDeleteI like your last question (food for thought). I think that often times, even within the world of education, we seclude ourselves to our specialities and do not recognize our work is part of a larger system. Just those that focus on policy often are blinded to other latent outcomes, I think psychometricians often end their analysis with measurement indicators and as you have stated in the class wash their hands when their instruments are used inappropriately.