Philosophy is defined as one’s own personal beliefs and values. Philosophy in its technical sense might best be thought of in three aspects: an activity, a set of attitudes, and a body of content (Knight, 2006). Within this paper one can find my personal philosophy on educational assessments. When working with students in the learning environment, it becomes the responsibility of the educator to transmit information to pupils, then check for understanding. As part of the checking process, this entails assessing the student. When a teacher is delivering information for students to receive through lessons, they must outline the learning objective to clearly state the task that the students need to master. However, this may pose challenges for …show more content…
I stand firm in believing that all students need to have some type of summative assessment within the classroom, however many high-stakes test on the national level do not address the individual differences in students. I believe that all students are different, and should be given equal opportunity to learn and execute the information they have learned. It becomes the role of the teacher to understand the strengths and weakness of each individual student. They are then able to shape lesson objectives and learning goals to meet the student’s needs. Through this process the assessments for the students become more based upon the assigned learning goals and needs of the …show more content…
But more so providing a hands on approach and fine tuning the lessons for each student to ensure they perform their best when presented with a test. We as educators are no longer in the age when we could rely solely on the textbook to help students prepare for the test. However, there are a vast set of material and resources that provides teachers with aids to meet the needs of the students and successfully prepare them for any high-stakes test. Within my classroom, I believe that if students are properly prepared based on their academic performance level, then they will excel in many areas when they are
From studying education, I have noticed how many school districts teach based upon what the students will be tested over. As a future educator, I feel as if a standardized test cannot determine what a student is capable of. The individuals creating the test often don’t realize that many students suffer from test anxiety, in fear of failing the test and what is more fearful is how the school districts pressure the teachers to stress to the students the importance of passing the test. Also, in this chapter Boaler describes assessment for learning as having three components clear communication about what students have learned, a way to help students understand where they are on their journey to mastery and where they still need to improve, and information on ways to get from where students are currently to where they need to be to meet success criteria. This chapter offered several strategies that will help students have a better grasp of where they are in the learning process and that will help them develop and maintain a growth mindset.
ANALYSE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ASSESSMENT METHODS IN RELATION TO MEETING THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF LEARNERS. UNIT 2, 6.2 Race, P. (2009) says “we need a richer mix of high-quality assessment formats, and we also need to decrease the overall burden of assessment for ourselves and for our students. We need to measure less, but measure it better.' Using a variety of assessment methods gives students more scope to demonstrate their knowledge and skills across a range of contexts. By adopting a wider catalogue of assessments I can also help support students who may for one reason or another be underprivileged by the extensive use of particular assessment formats.
Discussion Post- Chapter 7- High stakes testing Claim: High stakes testing is an extremely problematic political issue within the education system because it holds all students to the same standards regardless of disabilities or disadvantages , it encourages educators to teach strictly on information that relates to the tests, and it can have major consequences for schools across the country that are unable to make Adequete Yearly Progress (AYP). Evidence: The Learning to Teach Edition Nine textbook outlines key disadvantages to high stakes testing. Although the textbook does consider some of the advantages, which include a focus of attention on the achievement of students and providing information on areas where students may need to improve,
As a result, some schools are finding it tough to score above average on these test giving teachers no option, but to focus solely on learning outcomes that meet high stake test requirements. Additionally, students with low test score were always pressured by their teacher to achieve high test, scores and when they did not produce higher results, some educator, believed, if they punished the student they would become more serious with schooling and work hard to avoid the pressure or humiliating punishments (Hurley, 2007). I used to be an advocate of high stakes testing, but now I oppose high stakes testing sine I have seen first hand myself the damage it does to a student. Also, I several educators and professional use high stakes test results as a single indicator for measuring a person's competence or determining their future outcome, even though research has proven these tests is highly
Educators worried that Common Core assessment in the classroom would take away from instructional time for students. Teachers also wondered if in early education, children would be tested like older children through pencil/paper or computer-driven assessment. Another point brought out by teachers was if results of Common Core assessment would be used for high-stakes including accountability systems for teachers and programs. Lastly, there was the question of whether or not decisions about students, mainly retention in grade, may be based solely on the results of Common Core assessments. To answer these questions, Common Core researchers reminded teachers that assessment is an ongoing process and in order to improve teaching and learning, teachers must continually engage in assessment for the purpose of improving teaching and learning.
The effort needs to focus on every child and their needs. In his work as an education guru, Robert Marzano offers guidance that could lead us toward curriculum and instruction that celebrate student learning and achievement, but more importantly, growth. Formal assessments are good if they reflect points in the students journey, not as a one and done grade (Marzano, 2013). Formal assessments for students should only represent points on a performance scale. Marzano noted that "characteristics of sound feedback" include that it should be frequent, give students a clear picture of their progress and how they might improve, and provide encouragement.
In today’s educational setting, teachers must teach according to a strict curriculum, following a timeline of when to teach the lesson, how long to teach it for, and how to teach it. At the end of each lesson, a test is given to the students, and then a new lesson begins, pushing the previous lesson out of the brain probably never to be used again. Better yet, these lessons that are being taught by teachers are not showing up as frequently in standardized testing. Instead, these focus more on logic, strategy, and time-management, or how fast one can finish a test. Unfortunately, while some kids can prosper under timed conditions, many are not good at multiple-choice only tests, and they are frowned upon for low scores.
A student’s mental/physical health and future as an authentic learner is most at risk here. No matter how many cries from multiple students are heard, they continue to be silenced. Simply put, all standardized testing should be abolished for they are hurting students both in and out of classrooms. As students we deserve the ability to access authentic learning, however, with standardized testing heavily relied on, students are deprived of this interaction. In order to comprehend the authenticity being compromised, we must first understand, what is authentic learning.
Assessments are a teacher’s tool that builds a profile on student’s growth and are the “tell-tell” detectors that provide the with teacher information on a student who may need additional services in and beyond the
All students dread one thing when it comes to school - testing. Standardized test are the main focus in our school systems instead of actually gaining knowledge at the end of the year. As a mother, Michelle Rhee, understands the lack of attention given on education as a whole instead of just waiting on the scores, but she still agrees on continuing with standardized test. Kristina Rizga opposes the opinion of Michelle Rhee as she does not believe standardized test truly measure the intelligence of a student. Kristina Rizga proves her stand against standardized test by utilizing solid use of argumentation.
It creates an obsession with test scores as a chief “accountably” metric for students, educators and schools. This system has led to the exams becoming an end instead of a means to an end. For instance, according the Joh Holt, within the learning environment “the air practically vibrates with suspicion and anxiety, the child learns to live in a daze, saving his energies for those small parts of his life that are too trivial for the adults to bother with, and thus remain his.” (E) This represents the crucial and harsh environment students experience when facing tests. It puts unnecessary stress on the minds of students and degrades their self worth into nothing.
Additionally, the tasks need to be constructive and interlinked and provide a challenge to the students while also acting as a motivation factor. The adopting of effective teaching to match the personal strengths of the students ensures that a student’s learning outcome is achieved Holistic assessment should be encouraged to understand what the learner has captured on a learning
Smarter Balanced Assessment: Pro or Con? Smarter Balanced Assessment, who is it truly assessing, the teachers or the students? Smarter Balanced testing contributes to the teacher’s performance, but is it beneficial or does it have unintended consequences? Students are ultimately grading the teachers by taking these tests and they are not even aware of it. The disadvantages may outweigh the benefits for this topic, but teachers must look past the disadvantages and do what they were meant to do, teach.
Students are often taught to memorize facts and formulas rather than to think creatively and critically about the world around them. The focus on testing results in a one-size-fits-all approach to education that neglects the individual needs and interests of students. Furthermore, the use of standardized testing can exacerbate existing inequities in education. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds often struggle with standardized tests due to factors such as lack of access to resources and testing anxiety.
It is my goal to make sure students are not just memorizing facts, but are actually understanding. They should be able to take the lesson and apply it to other areas of their lives. I believe students need to be assessed frequently and routinely. The students need accurate and effective feedback, so they can make any necessary adjustments.