Nickel Hernandez Journalism 5/30/14 The Flaws of Educational Testing The earliest record of standardized testing comes from china, where hopefuls for government jobs had to fill out examinations testing their knowledge of Confucian Philosophy and poetry. By World War 1, standardized testing was slandered practice: aptitude quizzes called Army Mental test were conducted to assign to U. S. Servicemen Jobs during the war effort. Grading was at first done manually, an arduous task that undermined standardized testing’s goal of speedy mass assessment.
It would take until 1936 to develop automatic test scanners, a rudimentary computer called the MM 805. It used electrical current to detect marks made by special pencils on tests, Glenn rise to the now ubiquitous bubbling-in of answers. The different types of modern educational testing are: aptitude test, criterion reference test, formative assessment, multiple choice testing , performance assessment, norm referenced test, and standardized achievement test. Some people believe that standardized testing Is a cornerstone of education today.
Tests administrated by state education departments are also at the center of controversy for many teachers and education reformers. There are many reasons why people disagree with the idea and/or concept of educational testing. These reasons include, ; test scores cannot accurately determine a student’s learning, the stakes are too high, teachers are “teaching to the test and standardized testing eats up Instruction time There are seven different types of standardized test that the educational system uses to test the intellect of student in modern times.
First, there is the aptitude test. This test consists of items selected and standardized so that the educational system can predict a person’s future performance. Then, there Is the criterion-referenced test. This type of assessment is designed to compare a student’s test performance with clearly defined curricular objective, skill levels, or areas of knowledge. There is also formative testing, a process used by teachers and students during instruction that provides feedback to adjust ongoing teaching and learning to improve students’ achievement of intended instructional outcomes.
Multiple-choice tests are another Oromo of testing the educational system uses to test students’ intellectual capacity there are also performance assessment that directly assess pupil performance. Norm-referenced achievement tests measure basic concepts and skills commonly taught In schools throughout the country. Last but not least, there Is the standardized achievement tests. These are commonly used to provide valid, reliable, and unbiased information about students’ knowledge in various areas. “Standardized” means that the test Is always given and scored the same way.
Test administrated by state educational department are also at the center of controversy for many teachers and educational reformers. Many educators and parents have rallied to fix what they see as problems with standardized testing. These parents and educators voiced their ‘OFF pollen on ten special problem Walt standardize testing. I nose parents Ana educators voiced their opinion on the specific problem of standardized educational testing. Some of the faults with educational testing are that the stakes are too high.
Low-performing districts run the risk of state officials taking over operations and paving them with little freedom to make independent decisions. Critics of the No Child Left behind Act say that there is immense pressure on school officials, teachers, students, and parents. That pressure to succeed creates a poor environment for learning. Test scores can’t accurately measure learning. Standardized tests, by virtue of being multiple choices, do not allow students to express themselves. Many critics advocate for assessments that are open-ended. Also, teachers are “teaching to the test. With tests the center of a year’s curriculum, teachers lose some of the humanism and creativity that make schools effective and enjoyable- that there is no value placed on the concepts and hands-on projects that require a greater challenge than what can be tested in a multiple-choice format. Standardized testing eats up instruction time. Another concern is that schools are forced to make tough choices about course offering to accommodate time spent preparing for standardized tests. Subject such as art, music, and certain physical sciences aren’t tested, and therefore administrators often eliminate them from their schools.
The ACT and it’s the untreated, the SAT, become one of the largest determining factors in the college- admission process, particularly for elite schools. More than a million high school students take the ACT each year. Like the SAT, the ACT is a standardized multiple- choice test meant to predict first-year college grades. While the SAT predominates on the East and West Coasts, the ACT is more common in the Midwest, Southwest, and Deep South. The two exams have a weak ability to predict academic performance in college, making high school grades/GAP and rigor of classes taken the best measures f student potential.
Both of these exams are highly chewable, giving the advantage to the students who can afford to spend $800 or more on test preparation classes. Both exams have a similar format, disadvantaging groups such as females and English as Second Language learners who tend not to perform as well on timed, multiple-choice exams. Both exams show large gaps in scores between students of different racial groups, leading to racial bias in admissions and financial aid formulas that utilize rigid test score requirements. Pearson is the largest corporation serving his testing market.
Pearson is the world’s largest educational company and book publisher bringing in more than $9 billion annually. Currently, Pearson has partnered with 18 states in the U. S. As well as Washington, D. C. And Puerco Rice, to produce pricey testing materials. For a five year contract, Pearson was paid $32 million to produce standardized tests for New York. Its contract in Texas was worth $500 million. Pearson also owns Connection Academy, a company that runs for-profit, virtual charter schools. While Pearson is the major player in the rise of standardized jesting, other corporations have to stake in testing as well.
ACT/McGraw-Hill is probable Person’s main competitor, with several states across the country using its standardized tests. ACT/McGraw, with revenues of more than $2 billion, is best known for its Terracotta and California Achievement tests, There is way too much invested in these flawed testing making it impossible to get rid of. There is a wide variety of educational testing but all have similar flaws. They limit the test takers’ creatively wanly cripples us Trot expressing ourselves wanly would really allow officials to measure our intellectual capacity.
Because these tests are chewable it gives an advantage to students who are better off financially. It is clear that the Government do not share my views. They have invested billions of dollars in these flawed testing therefore making it impossible for them to get rid of; therefore we can only try to figure out ways to adjust/flux the tests. We have to find ways in which they can test us while allowing us to expand beyond our horizons. If they find a way to do this, I believe they can really measure a student’s intelligence.
