As a teacher in a bilingual school, it is important to understand the pros and cons of standardized testing. Here are some of the key points to consider:
Pros of standardized testing:
– Provides an established set of standards that all teachers and students work together[6].
– Offers an objective measurement of education and a good metric to gauge areas for improvement[2].
– Can help schools evaluate progress and compare students from different backgrounds[3].
– Can be used as data to help schools improve the quality of teaching and learning[1].
– Can help identify strengths and weaknesses in students, so these students can receive individualized attention as needed[5].
Cons of standardized testing:
– Can cause stress and anxiety for children[4].
– Can disrupt a teacher’s curricular plan and force him or her to cover material that might be less relevant to his or her students[3].
– Can be biased and not cater to all learning styles[4].
– Can be harmful when tests are used to judge students’ natural abilities and when educators are put under pressure to “teach to the test” [1].
– Can be unfair to low-income students and often misrepresent the academic abilities of English Language Learners[3].
It is important to remember that standardized testing is only one point of data within an array of internal assessments across many subject areas that provide us with information on a student’s learning progress[1]. As educators, we should always look at standardized tests not as a value judgement on the student, but as an additional data point that can provide some insight into their progress[1]. Ultimately, it is up to each individual school to decide whether or not to use standardized testing and how to use the results to improve teaching and learning.
How do standardized tests affect student motivation?
Standardized testing can have both positive and negative effects on student motivation. Here are some of the ways that standardized testing can affect student motivation:
Pros:
– Some students are motivated by data and seeing areas where they need to improve[5].
– Standardized tests can help identify strengths and weaknesses in students, which can lead to individualized attention and support[1][5].
Cons:
– High-stakes tests can increase test anxiety and lead to higher student retention and dropout rates[1][3][6].
– Students may become extrinsically motivated by the test rather than intrinsically motivated to learn new things for the sake of learning[5].
– Standardized tests can be biased and not cater to all learning styles, which can lead to low intrinsic motivation in students[2][4].
It is important to remember that motivation is a complex phenomenon and can be influenced by many factors beyond standardized testing. As educators, we should strive to create a learning environment that fosters intrinsic motivation and supports students in achieving their goals. This can include providing opportunities for student choice and autonomy, creating a positive classroom culture, and offering meaningful feedback and support[1].
How do standardized tests affect student engagement in the classroom?
Standardized testing can have both positive and negative effects on student engagement in the classroom. Here are some of the ways that standardized testing can affect student engagement:
Pros:
– Some students are motivated by data and seeing areas where they need to improve[5].
– Standardized tests can help identify strengths and weaknesses in students, which can lead to individualized attention and support[1][5].
Cons:
– High-stakes tests can increase test anxiety and lead to lower student engagement in the classroom[1][3][6].
– Students may become extrinsically motivated by the test rather than intrinsically motivated to learn new things for the sake of learning[5].
– Standardized tests can be biased and not cater to all learning styles, which can lead to low intrinsic motivation in students[2][4].
It is important to remember that engagement is a complex phenomenon and can be influenced by many factors beyond standardized testing. As educators, we should strive to create a learning environment that fosters intrinsic motivation and supports students in achieving their goals. This can include providing opportunities for student choice and autonomy, creating a positive classroom culture, and offering meaningful feedback and support[1]. Additionally, performance-based assessments that allow students to choose how they show their learning can be more engaging and equitable than standardized tests[1].
Citations:
[1] https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/standardized-testing-still-failing-students
[2] https://www.edutopia.org/article/what-does-research-say-about-testing/
[3] https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/143657
[4] http://ipistudentengagement.com/PDFs/rsrch_mnscrpts/Student%20Engagement%20and%20Standardized%20Tests%20in%20Elementary%20Schools%209-11.pdf
[5] https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/effects-of-standardized-testing/
[6] https://research.library.kutztown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=wickedproblems
Citations:
[1] https://people.wou.edu/~girodm/611/testing_and_motivation.pdf
[2] https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED609853.pdf
[3] https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/-the-effects-of-high-stakes-testing-on-student-motivation-and-learning
[4] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559683
[5] https://www.genieacademy.com/blog/how-standardized-tests-affect-student-performance
[6] https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1588&context=acadfest
Citations:
[1] https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/the-pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing
[2] https://standardizedtests.procon.org
[3] https://www.sparkadmissions.com/blog/standardized-testing-pros-cons/
[4] https://helpfulprofessor.com/standardized-test-pros-cons/
[5] https://www.weareteachers.com/standardized-testing/
[6] https://kid.io/pros-and-cons-of-standardized-testing/
