So maybe you read my blog. Maybe you expect updates from your far away friend, or some other expectation that I can’t possibly meet. I’m not here to cater to those, but I offer you my random thoughts. You may have noticed I didn’t post in November. Well then, here is my summary of November. I grew a beard. It once again showed its true ginger color of red. I also had many thoughts and opinions. None of which will be unearthed in full.
I welcome December. Today was testing day, and that means no classes. I will never complain about a free day. Time to catch up on slick youtube vids, facebook happenings, reply to the many messages I am daily behind with, and type a letter or two on the ole bloggy blog.
First things first; I am opinionated, and I have A LOT of opinions.
One thing I’ve learned while living in another country is listening to other people spout off their opinions. I’ve enjoyed some good shared thoughts, and other times a bit shocked at the ignorance. I had a good chat with a friend the other night while having some coffee. It was nice to hear some logical thoughts from someone.
Second things second; I am a.d.d
Where was I going with that? No idea, I probably felt the need to preface it for a greater thought I may later elaborate, or embellish with my oh so ornery attitude.
I learned that my students have tests today. I would equate it with the difficulty of a semester test back home. The difference being they take all subjects in one day. They aren’t spread out, and it significantly impacts their future in school down the road. No, not just getting scores, but these tests could determine where they go to school, and whether or not they make it to college/ or trade school. It doesn’t leave much room for choice.
One thing I have a problem with is broken systems. I won’t be the first to say the US has testing down perfect (in fact I hate the emphasis placed on testing in the US), but this is just nuts! I understand the importance of assessment. I understand that testing is one way, or means of assessing student knowledge, but why for God sakes is it the end all method we use for so many important things?
"Hey little Gregory you scored a 34 on you ACT. Come to my college for free. You clearly deserve it. We saw Jasmine had tons of extracurriculars, but didn’t want her 19 ACT test taking ability diseasing our campus. Sincerely, the majority of US colleges." <--- I'm not sure why this popped in my brain. Just roll with it.
Maybe that’s a stretch, maybe there isn’t another way to determine why someone should go to a school and another shouldn’t. Maybe I should offer a solution myself if I’m going to complain about the current systems in place.
That is wherein I believe is the problem. When you try to standardize assessing intelligence, or knowledge known, things tend to get complicated. As much as we try to put systems in place for standardization and equalization, the student problems are immediate and pressing. No matter what, test questions are always going to have some sort of bias, some sort of assumed background knowledge that the test taker may or may not have. Some students may need more time reading questions, or even just the physicality of the test. I ask myself this question, “Does this truly measure the knowledge of the question being asked?” I wonder to myself if everyone who has taken tests has always had a perfect morning, well fed, a good night’s sleep, perfect attention, no physical limits, and NO distractions. It may sound like I was a poor test taker from my rant on the subject. In fact quite the opposite. I didn’t really study for tests until college. I just have a problem with broken systems.
There is still the dilemma of how a college should accept someone. How does one prove himself worthy of going to said college? Perhaps testing isn’t a terrible option, but the current emphasis on test scores is mind boggling, and absurd.
My final question is this, What are our desired goals of assessment? If it is to display student knowledge does our current system match this goal. I don't believe so.
I would have to say our desired goals of assessment are to categorize people according to their test scores. Just like your credit score says how likely you are to pay your bills on time, the standardization of education is set up to categorize one's ability to succeed in the academic world. But only in the academic world. Even standard IQ tests cannot measure someone's ability to comprehend and master things like music, interpersonal skills, or confidence. Ultimately, the refining of the educational system must first begin with what method we are using to categorize people. There is no perfect way to measure one's intellectual ability... yet, anyway. The testing system they implement is quick, easy and mess free. It will probably stay that way too because a government-funded public school does not have the means (or simply chooses not to use their resources wisely) to help children find what it is they're passionate about or what they're good at. One can only hope things will be like that eventually.
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