Scan barcode
A review by claudiaswisher
The Myths of Standardized Tests: Why They Don't Tell You What You Think They Do by Joan Harris, Phillip Harris, Bruce M. Smith
5.0
This book left me wanting to stand up and cheer. The authors (from Indiana University, but I swear that's not why I loved it!!) systematically explain what standardized tests can do (predict performance on other tests) and what they cannot do (show achievement, label students' learning, be used to retain students or punish teachers or schools). I have six pages of quotes from the book that I will be using in my work about testing abuses.
They talk about accountability, narrowed curriculum, grading schools and teachers. They discuss the high-stakes efforts that are sweeping the nation as policy makers think they're doing the right thing.
They discuss the cheating that goes on when tests become high stakes, identifying any test prep as a form of cheating, since these tests are normed on students who were NOT prepped for the tests. They talk about how reliance on standardized testing is dumbing down curricula, narrowing it, and taking learning opportunities away from students...they even talked about one elementary school that completely did away with recess.
Their discussion of the SAT and GRE were telling. SAT as a measure doesn't predict grades for the first year of college any better than high school grades...and that's all the SAT is designed to do. Many colleges have stopped requiring it for that reason. In fact, a better indicator of success after high school is involvement in outside leadership opportunities...but no one can make money on that like Pearson and other testing companies can.
One of the authors had the same experience with the GRE that I did. GRE claims to predict success with graduate work. We both had masters' degrees, a strong indication that we would be successful in graduate work, but we both were required to take the GRE anyway...nothing more than another box to check off.
Ultimately, the authors show how we should NEVER put our faith in tests; instead we should put our faith in teaching and authentic learning, and leadership, and service.
I'll be sharing this with everyone I know!
They talk about accountability, narrowed curriculum, grading schools and teachers. They discuss the high-stakes efforts that are sweeping the nation as policy makers think they're doing the right thing.
They discuss the cheating that goes on when tests become high stakes, identifying any test prep as a form of cheating, since these tests are normed on students who were NOT prepped for the tests. They talk about how reliance on standardized testing is dumbing down curricula, narrowing it, and taking learning opportunities away from students...they even talked about one elementary school that completely did away with recess.
Their discussion of the SAT and GRE were telling. SAT as a measure doesn't predict grades for the first year of college any better than high school grades...and that's all the SAT is designed to do. Many colleges have stopped requiring it for that reason. In fact, a better indicator of success after high school is involvement in outside leadership opportunities...but no one can make money on that like Pearson and other testing companies can.
One of the authors had the same experience with the GRE that I did. GRE claims to predict success with graduate work. We both had masters' degrees, a strong indication that we would be successful in graduate work, but we both were required to take the GRE anyway...nothing more than another box to check off.
Ultimately, the authors show how we should NEVER put our faith in tests; instead we should put our faith in teaching and authentic learning, and leadership, and service.
I'll be sharing this with everyone I know!