http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/09/24/its-all-about-the-test/ Just another Edublogs.org weblog Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:19:45 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/09/24/its-all-about-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Jana Wed, 26 Sep 2007 03:13:31 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/09/24/its-all-about-the-test/#comment-5 When I was in school, and I'd get stuch on a question on the test, my teachers advised me to fill in the answer. This was because the likelihood of getting the answer right if I guessed randomly was better than if I left the answer blank. So, if I got stuck, or if I ran out of time and had a bunch of questions left, I just filled in the bubbles on the scantron so that the filled in circles made patterns and pictures. ABACADABA was a favorite pattern of mine.I don't think I really learned much by taking those standardized tests. It's funny that all the time that the counselor spent "preparing" us for the test, and the time that the teacher apparently spent building his/ her curriculum around the test specifically, and one of the most valuable lessons I learned was how much these tests didn't accurately measure what I know, or not know. Like Rozema, I am a fan of authentic assignments and assessments. When I was in school, and I’d get stuch on a question on the test, my teachers advised me to fill in the answer. This was because the likelihood of getting the answer right if I guessed randomly was better than if I left the answer blank. So, if I got stuck, or if I ran out of time and had a bunch of questions left, I just filled in the bubbles on the scantron so that the filled in circles made patterns and pictures. ABACADABA was a favorite pattern of mine.I don’t think I really learned much by taking those standardized tests. It’s funny that all the time that the counselor spent “preparing” us for the test, and the time that the teacher apparently spent building his/ her curriculum around the test specifically, and one of the most valuable lessons I learned was how much these tests didn’t accurately measure what I know, or not know. Like Rozema, I am a fan of authentic assignments and assessments.

]]> http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/09/24/its-all-about-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Mike Wise Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:59:09 +0000 http://sapele.edublogs.org/2007/09/24/its-all-about-the-test/#comment-4 Yes! I hate to sound redundant, because I posted on Walter's blog a very similar thing that I am going to post here, but I feel very strongly about this. I think the SAT should be abolished. It is silly to make kids learn things in classrooms simply to be able to churn out the info on a multiple choice exam. In fact, while I'm at it, multiple choice exams should be thrown out altogether. Honestly, I always learned much more about what I knew when I had to write an essay or at least short answer questions. Along with what you said, getting rid of these huge standardized tests will make way for real lesson plans and real curriculum. Thought I'd throw my two cents in. Hey, check out my blog. If this interested you, you may be interested in my latest post. Yes! I hate to sound redundant, because I posted on Walter’s blog a very similar thing that I am going to post here, but I feel very strongly about this. I think the SAT should be abolished. It is silly to make kids learn things in classrooms simply to be able to churn out the info on a multiple choice exam. In fact, while I’m at it, multiple choice exams should be thrown out altogether. Honestly, I always learned much more about what I knew when I had to write an essay or at least short answer questions. Along with what you said, getting rid of these huge standardized tests will make way for real lesson plans and real curriculum. Thought I’d throw my two cents in. Hey, check out my blog. If this interested you, you may be interested in my latest post.

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