TftF 77: High Stakes Testing

Podcast Link at Teaching for the Future.com

Part 1: Introduction

In a world where viable careers in manufacturing and service are being exported out of the United States, American students are having to compete more with students form other countries. Not since the Cold War has the education of our children (big or small0 has been so important for the social and economic security of our nation. But now in an effort to track our students' progress we are teaching our students to the test? With education initiative like NCLB or the MCAS here in Massachusetts we are spending more class time preparing and examining our students.

While some argue that high stakes testing is a way for politicians to tout their tough stance on education others argue that this is an important way to assess our student's progress. In today's episode we will explore the issues surrounding high stakes testing and their effects on education.

Part 2: Assessment in the Media

Feel free to link to any material that you think I would find helpful for the show. Articles can come from the mainstream media, your favorite blog, or your own website. Make sure to leave your name and a link so that I can thank you during the show. Also: If you are not sure if your item belongs in the media section or in the comments section feel free to put it in either and someone will move it for you.

• Elementary and middle school MCAS scores flat for second year from the Boston Globe: From the article: "People tend to concentrate on high school results but it's clear to me that we need to also focus on our middle and elementary schools," Driscoll said this morning in a written statement. "Any sign of a decline in the lower grades is concerning, because it gets more difficult to catch up as students get older." -Dave LaMorte

• MCAS proponents demand reform from BostonNow: Former proponents of the MCAS such as Martin Kaplan, former chairman of the Massachusetts BoE, and Frank Hadu, former Massachusetts Ed Commissioner, are going on record as saying that the "MCAS test is off track from its original purpose" -Dave LaMorte

• Tests scores are up, what does that mean? from Moving at the Speed of Creativity: Wesley Fryer discusses a CNN article that shows a rise in test scores since NCLB. Are our students doing better or are we just teaching to the test?

Part 3: Interview

I spoke with Dr. Louis Volante, a professor in the Education Department at Brock University in Hamilton, Ontario. Dr. Volante is a noted critic of

high stakes testing and analyzes test-based accountability models in

various industrialized countries. He spoke to me of some of the misconceptions and some of the dangers of high stakes testing.

Thanks to Aaron Smith and Whitney Hoffman for their help with the research for this episode.