On
March 28, 2012, President Obama was asked about standardized tests, he shared a
story about his daughters, who had just taken a standardized test without
panicking about it, because they ignored they would be tested, he said that many
times the standardized tests are used to punish students or schools, and
suggested to apply these tests in a less pressured atmosphere (Univision.com,
2012).
Looking
for different ways to assess students, I found an interesting article about Hungary.
In this country the kindergarten coverage is over 90% of children 5 years old
and older, keeping in mind that there is a low birth rate in this country, and
its services have aimed at the balanced development of young children,
emphasizing the acquisition of social and learning skills, rather than on rote
learning and subject knowledge. School-based program for children aged 3-7
includes basic skills development, pre-reading, drawing, singing and school
preparation.
Children
are assessed by the kindergarten teachers throughout the school year. As from
September 2004, their Act on Public Education stipulates that all children must
be assessed in written, individual analysis. Kindergartens are staffed by
kindergarten pedagogues who are required to have a tertiary degree of at least
2500 hours, of which 30% is of a practical nature including observations of
kindergarten practice, individual and group sessions, and practical courses.
They are helped by kindergarten assistants who provide support to the
kindergarten pedagogues in the operation of the kindergarten class. Classes are
therefore organized into groups with two pedagogues, and the support of an
assistant/cleaner. The assistants do not have to have a secondary education and
are able, but not required, to take a specialist examination. Currently some
80% of kindergarten teachers have a tertiary degree and a total of 97% have
specialized training (Hidasi, n.d.).
I
think the result of assessments in a program should not determine whether the
child is promoted or not, but it can let the teacher know the kind of help that
child needs at that moment. In addition, as President Obama mentioned, these
tests should not only to judge whether a school is doing well or not
(Univision.com, 2012).
References
- Benson, E.
(February,2003). Intelligent intelligence testing. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb03/intelligent.aspx
- Hidasi, J. (n.d.) A successful kindergarten in Hungary. http://www.childresearch.net/PROJECT/ECEC/europe/hungary/report10_01.html
-Illinois
State Board of Education. (2010). Illinois learning standards. Retrieved from http://www.isbe.net/ils/pdf/standards_qa.pdf
-Univision.com
(2012). Transcript of President Obama's Town hall. Retrieved from http://vidayfamilia.univision.com/es-el-momento/obama-y-la-educacion/article/2011-03-29/transcript-of-president-obamas-townhall?page=6
Hi Caty
ReplyDeleteIn Ontario, we have an Education Quality and Assessment Office (EQAO) that administers formal tests at across the entire province in Grade 3, 6 and 9. These tests are conducted over the course of an entire week and are viewed as being reflective of the abilities of the teachers and students attending the schools.
Here is the link to their site: http://www.eqao.com/categories/home.aspx?Lang=E
Carolyn
Your blog this week was very powerful! I agree with you when you say that assessment should not be used for promotion but as an instrument to determine when a child needs help. It is very true when you say that certain factors should be taken into consideration when determining what a child has learned. Suppose the children have gone through some traumatic life altering experience, like the children of Hurricane Katrina. (That year someone had enough insight to consider that student’s experience and allow the children to progress in spite of.) I witnessed children enrolling into schools, staying a couple of weeks –even days--and then moving again. I was difficult for all involved. Yes, as educators, we need to consider the whole child.
ReplyDeleteThe President was correct in saying that tests are used to punish schools. I ask myself who suffers. Ultimately, the students suffer. On April, 12-17, 2012, our state (Louisiana) will be administering state wide testing. The atmosphere will be so rigid, my kids are already talking about an urgency to pass the test so that they can enjoy the summer and not be mandated to attend summer school because of an unacceptable score. For an eight thru ten year old that is too much pressure. What do you think?
OMG! Standardized tests! In Virginia they are called SOL's it stands for standard of learning. They harm the school environment so much - children can't learn to the best of their ability because teachers are under so much pressure to teach for the test. They can't spend extra time following the children's interest or need. They totally suck. I remember how awful SOL week was. There were some good parts like if I passed my SOL I didn't have to take a final exam. but Elugh - they suck. So High Five for President Obama.
ReplyDeleteAlso on an unrelated note - i just realized the picture you have was taken in Disney World (or I'm an idiot and you actually went to China) - Either way makes me happy.
Caty,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the abilities evaluated in Hungary fall under
Gardner's multiple intelligences. Music and spatial intelligence would evolve from the right side of the brain (Martin, 1995). Children who are right brained would do much better with a situational test, portfolio of their work, or project based assessment.
Martin, W. (1995). Assessing multiple intelligences. International Conference on Educational Assessment. Retrieved from ERIC Database.
Caty,
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear how P. Obama's children's school relayed the standarized testing without the stress of testing! All kids in our public education grades from grade 3 up participate in the SOL's (as mentioned above in VA) and they FREAK out! As much as vomit sessions before and during the testing. Kids starve themselves their so nervous!
Hi Caty,
ReplyDeleteI too agree, assessments should be used only as a tool to determine how much the child has learnt and also enable the teacher to know who well she has been able to impart the knowledge to her students. A screening or test that looks at human potential in its broadest sense is what we need to evaluate a child (something like a portfolio that Suzanne suggested in her blog), because standard IQ tests measure only part of the brain potential.
Thanks for your thoughts! I agree with you completely that a child's mood or affect should be counted into play when assessing children because it may effect the results of the test which could in the end provide the child with inadequate early intervention services. In addition, when assessing children I believe we need to take into account the whole child's development: physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I enjoyed reading your post! It is extremely hard to judge standardized testing. There are so many different variables that really effect the child and the results it is hard to get a good read and true reading of knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that it is a good measure to give teachers examples of what needs improvement and areas they can teach more of the weaker information.