Thursday, November 15, 2012
Blog Prompt 2
Standardized tests are usually used at the end of the year, therefore they are summative, since they do not inform the current instruction of the teacher. They are more for the benefit of the school, since they are used for general abilities versus a course grade. They are also formal since they acquire data and use statistics to be scored.
A test can have poor validity in that it may not show the actual intelligence and capability of a student. Standardized tests assess certain areas, but a student pay perform poorly but still be cognitively advanced (just have a disability or trouble taking the test) or have knowledge and skills within another area not tested.
These tests could prove to be inequitable in that they do no account for the teacher, preparation or environment in which the test is given. This could influence the grades of students and not account for their actual abilities.
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I like your comment about the inequity of the tests. I had never thought about the actual test-taking environment being a factor for students. This would definitely effect their test scores if they were in a stuffy or cold, uncomfortable room with a very serious and stern atmosphere. I always got nervous in situations like these taking the big state tests.
ReplyDeleteSome school corporations are doing standardized testing in the fall and spring now, as a way to see which test provides better scores. I didn't necessarily think of the tests as summative, because they are over a broader range of information than I consider for a summative test.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point about not accounting for differences in environment, but what about qualities of students? Would a student who doesn't speak formal english at home be at a disadvantage? What about students with learning disabilities?
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