Thursday, April 30, 2009

Standardized Test

Standardized test ugh what can I say, from my experience with them, I hate them. Now I wasn't the greatest test taker but that didn't mean a wasn't a good student. I feel that standardized test give extreme pressure to schools, teachers, and students. This test are to determine a students progress but, what happens if you get a student who is a good above average student in the class but, not a good test taker? The outcome of that standardized test will not reflect the student. Also, I don't believe standardized test reflect the teachers' teaching skills. I feel that this test only put pressure on teachers to teach closed minded. I understand that the state needs to keep track of the schools' but, these test are not the answer.

Report Cards-

I see reports as important and necessary for teachers, students, and parents. Reports make teachers consider all the students' work and progress and evaluate them to see if they go on to the next level. Students see how all they work paid off in the end. Parents see how their child has done for a whole year.
Reports may arise issues though. Evidence is need to back up that letter grade. Teacher need to consider test, classwork, homework, participation, and overall progress when giving a grade on a report card. Students see how all their work for a year paid off. If the child or parent is not understanding the grade the teacher needs to have that evidence. The report is a necessary tool in the education system is always teachers, students, and parents how well or how poorly a student is doing.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Portfolios

I absolutely love portfolios. Portfolios don't only help students and teacher keep track of the student's work but, it shows students the importance and effectiveness of organization. A portfolio allows the students/teachers see how far along the student has come. Keeping the student's work from it being the best or worst work they have done will help them see where things go right and where they go wrong. I love how students/parents/teachers can just go back and look in this portfolio to see where extra help or time is needed. Portfolios can make the assessment process easier. The students' work is their neatly organized for beginning to end for teacher to evaluate. Students know what they are being evaluated on and parents know where the grade is coming from. Also, portfolios can be take home by each student and that student can continue it and start a new at the end of the year. I love the fact that with portfolios you can look back on what you've done.

Multiple Choice or Essay ?

Both essay and multiple choice test are important parts in assessment. A multiple choice test is straight out right or wrong there is no gray area. A multiple choice test is great for the students who test will but, what happens to the others? Essay test give the student who may not be a great test taker the chance to express themselves without the fear of its right or wrong. Essay test can also give the teacher an insight on how far a student is taking the giving information or how they are not getting concepts. In a classroom no student is a like so, why not give the different types of evaluation. Different types of test will give each student a chance to shine.