The Controversy of Standardized Testing Essays -- Standardized Testing

The Controversy of standardize TestingNo issue in the U.S. Education is more disputed than ( standardize) psychometric testing. Some people view it as the linchpin of serious domesticise and improvement, others as a menace to quality teaching and learning (Phelps). A tool that educators use to learn about students and their learning capabilities is the standardized test. standardize tests atomic number 18 designed to give a common measure of a students exerciseance. Popular tests include the SAT, IQ tests, Regents Exams, and the ACT. Three kinds of standardized tests ar used frequently in schools achievement, diagnostic, and aptitude (Woolfolk 550). Achievement tests nominate be used to help a instructor assess a students strengths and weaknesses in a particular subject. Diagnostic tests are typically given to elementary school students when learning problems are suspected. adroitness tests are designed to predict how a student will perform in the future. For example, the SAT predicts performance in the first year of college. standardized tests give educators a standard measure or yardstick because such(prenominal) a large number of students across the country take the selfsame(prenominal) test. These tests are used to tell how salutary school programs are doing or to give a picture of the skills and abilities of students. interchangeable tests however, are problematic at all ages and levels of schooling. Standardized aptitude tests measure students abilities to learn in school, how well they are likely to succeed in future education. Rather than meter knowledge of subjects taught in school, these tests measure a broad range of abilities or skills that are considered important to succeed in school. The classroom setting and teacher are the key to assessment. Pressure to produce higher scores leads teachers to way on material that will be covered by the tests and to pull out everything else. The curriculum is thereby narrowed, which means that some subjects are ignored. Within those that are taught, lower order thinking skills are emphasized. As a result, test scores get inflated while real learning suffers (Phelps). mental process based assessment guarantees an increased understanding of the growth of individual child. such(prenominal) understanding reduces the need for currently used standardized tests.Standards for Education and mental Testing (American mental Association) states the ... ... tests are counterproductive. Meaning that instead of leading to stronger academic achievement, it is said to interfere with teaching and learning. Teachers should use test results to improve their instruction, non to justify lower expectations or to stereotype students.BibliographyWorks CitedAmerican Psychological Association. Standards for educational and Psychological Testing. Washington, D.C. American Psychological Association, 1985Goodwin, W.L., and Driscoll, L.A. Handbook for Measurement and evaluation in Edu cation. San Fransisco Jossey-Bass, 1980Phelps, R.P. Why Testing Experts Hate Testing. Fordham Report, Jan. 1999 Available online http//www.ed.excellence.net/library/phelps.htmSacks, P. Standardized Minds The High Price of Americas Testing Culture and What we flush toilet do to Change it. Cambridge, Mass. Perseus Books, Feb. 2000 Available online http//www.fairtest.org.k12/psacks.htmlWiseman, D.L., Cooner, D.D., and Knight, S.L. Becoming a Teacher in a Field-Based Setting an Introduction to Education and Classrooms. Belmont, CA Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999Woolfolk, A. Educational Psychology. Needham