A standardized test is typically summative (because it is used to improve and change a school's way of teaching students and see if the students are where they are supposed to be), and formal (because students all sit down in desks at school and take timed tests).
If an assessment is reliable, it is consistent in its scores. For example, if you take an exam on Monday and Friday, it is expected that you will earn a similar score both times. It is unlikely that you will get the exact same score or a huge discrepancy between scores. The validity of a test reflects how well it meets what it intended to measure. An example of an exam that is reliable but has poor validity would be an exam that produces many similar scores, although it might not assess the content very well.
Standardized tests are not actually "standardized" because there are many assumptions made. For example, a question on a standardized test might reference a toy or video game that members of a lower SES might not be familiar with. Another example would be a reference to a certain type of food or cultural aspect that students of different nationalities might not be familiar with.
I really like your reasoning for why standardized tests are not really standardized. My mom is a 4th grade teacher in a low-income area, and most of her students are of ethnic minorities. She has told me many stories of how tests, and even standardized worksheets give students trouble because they include words they are not familiar with, such as sports, games, movies, and toys. Because they do not understand a few words in the question, they get confused, which can cause them to answer incorrectly. It is extremely unfair for these students, but it is not like my mom can change the tests. This is definitely a major challenge of teaching, and something many of us future teachers will have to deal with in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the way that you describe summative assessments (because it is used to improve and change a school's way of teaching students and see if the students are where they are supposed to be) better describe formative assessments. To my understanding, formative assessments are used to improve how teachers are teaching. They are more of a tool for teachers to assure that their students are grasping the concepts. I agree that standardized tests are summative, but it is because they cover topics from an entire instructional period to ensure that the students have correctly learned and understood the material that they have been taught.
ReplyDeleteI like and agree with the comments above! So many of you are reflecting on the not-quite-standardized nature of standardized tests in a very reasonable and insightful way. It's great that you're thinking about these things already!
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