Standerized Testing in the Curriculum

Standardized testing is leads to a very controlled curriculum because it dictates what students must learn. I agree there are essential skills that students should learn, however, I do think some stuff is pushing it. In social studies, for instance, I think it is important to know about the make up the government or World War II, but standardized testing force schools to teach certain content because it will be on the exam. This creates a teacher centered learning environment that does not provide for a lot of time for students to explore things not covered in the textbook. Rather then a teacher centered approach, I think the students should have a voice in what they learn. If students learn about something that is interesting to them, it is easier to get more excited about it. For instance, my 7th grade students love studying ancient Egypt. If they love studying ancient Egypt, it would be a great time to do a PBL unit and let students explore. However, due to time constraints, there is not time to spend more then two weeks on Ancient Egypt because the curriculum demands they get through Medieval Europe this year. They get more of an overview, more then anything else and are forced to form generalizations. I would spend a little more time on the unit and design a way to put the learning in the student’s hands!

Standardization

As a future educator, I feel standardization is one of the inappropriate things in a public school. I have always found fault in standardized tests at instruments of intelligence because they are biased, reduce the scope and quantity course work, diminish the role of teachers and do not make students active learners.

Over the summer, in my class, we discussed how biased standardized tests are. They are culturally biased towards the dominate class, as evident in scores. Suburban schools do much better then inner city schools, generally, but you can not hold students to the same standards. Students have different experiences they bring the test, that affects performance. I do not like standardized tests because they are high stakes tests. The funding a school district gets is dependent on how well students do. This means teachers try to drill information into the students. This does not make students active learners, but rather passive learners. I think active learning is essential because it teaches students to solve problems. I think memorization servers a purpose, but how many of actually remember what we memorized in a high school class? I think problem solving solving and analysis is more important and it prepares students for the real world / college.

The other problem I have with standardization is that the state has a lot to do with it. State legislators write the standards and make the tests high stakes test. What does the politicians have to do with schools? They are not teachers, they do not know how to measure student performance. Most of they probably could not eve describe what scope and sequence is. Yet, buraracteric reforms are imposed on schools in the name of objectivity and and equality. I think educate should be authentic to the student, meaning to their experiences. Learning should be something the students should know and they get excited about.

PBL in Middle School

After watching the video and reading some information about Problem Based Learning, I have become a strong advocate of PBL because I think it teaches students to be Proactive Learners. Students become Proactive learners because rather then reading a textbook become in charge of their own learning. In the Virginia Lake School District in Palatine, IL Paula Bullis sixth grade class had the opportunity to participate in a PBL designed to improve scores on the Illinois Goal Assessment Program. Normally, when students hear about the IGAP they think it’s another boring test. However, students took more control of their learning.

The students divided themselves into five groups. One group figured out when and where students could practice for the IGAP. Two groups looked for resources and found math/reading books to help prepare. Another group designed questions to people familiar with the test. The same group interviewed the principal about regarding the scoring of the IGAP. The principal explained how the state decided who meets, does not meet and exceed state standards. The last group set up a tutoring program which focus was to help understand more about the test subjects on the IGAP. In the end, Paula Bullis sixth grade class spent 45 minutes preparing for the IGAP four times a week.

The method described above benefited the students in many ways. First, it helped make them proactive learners because they sought out information. This added to the maturity level of students because they felt as if they were in control of their own learning. Because students felt in control of their learning, they put a lot of effort into it. There was less goofing around and more ethical behavior. I think the PBL also taught the students to be good problem solvers, which is essential in today's world.