This week I'll be administering the SBAC Math Computer Adaptive Test to my students. I've already had them do the Performance Task sessions, so we're about halfway through.
I have mixed feelings about standardized testing in general, and some specific concerns about the SBAC specifically. There are quite a few substantial changes to the testing this year, and the information to teachers has been confusing and limited.
When I am scheduling when to give the test, I struggle with a variety of variables:
During this school year, I've tried to walk the fine line between preparing students for this new testing format, and not hyping the importance of the test, so my students don't get stressed out too much.
I get that we need to be able to assess students, compare schools, and see how effective teachers are, but there has to be a better way. After spending hours and hours preparing students, and taking the test (at least 15-20 hours), I will receive no specific information which I can use to change my instruction. The students will also not know how they performed on the tests, perhaps until next year. Last year, they knew their results immediately after finishing the test.
During the test, I watch some of my students taking the test, how they don't read the directions, how they spend time changing the font size, and literally filling a text box with a single letter, then deleting it, and wonder how the results of this test could be used to determine my compensation. There is also the new student who is taking his tests under my name, even though I have only had him 2 weeks before testing.
My wife, also a teacher, thinks that state testing should be "short and continuous." Meaning that we should be doing it more often, for much shorter amounts of time. Maybe even weekly, in 15-20 minute blocks. This makes sense, especially if I can get useful information to act upon. I do this already, but my assessments are not always standard. It would be a relatively easy change.
How can we go about making this change?
I have mixed feelings about standardized testing in general, and some specific concerns about the SBAC specifically. There are quite a few substantial changes to the testing this year, and the information to teachers has been confusing and limited.
When I am scheduling when to give the test, I struggle with a variety of variables:
- is morning or afternoon better?
- should I spend a lot of time on the practice tests, or spend that time teaching more content?
- Will the computer lab (yes, there's only one) be available when I need it?
During this school year, I've tried to walk the fine line between preparing students for this new testing format, and not hyping the importance of the test, so my students don't get stressed out too much.
I get that we need to be able to assess students, compare schools, and see how effective teachers are, but there has to be a better way. After spending hours and hours preparing students, and taking the test (at least 15-20 hours), I will receive no specific information which I can use to change my instruction. The students will also not know how they performed on the tests, perhaps until next year. Last year, they knew their results immediately after finishing the test.
During the test, I watch some of my students taking the test, how they don't read the directions, how they spend time changing the font size, and literally filling a text box with a single letter, then deleting it, and wonder how the results of this test could be used to determine my compensation. There is also the new student who is taking his tests under my name, even though I have only had him 2 weeks before testing.
My wife, also a teacher, thinks that state testing should be "short and continuous." Meaning that we should be doing it more often, for much shorter amounts of time. Maybe even weekly, in 15-20 minute blocks. This makes sense, especially if I can get useful information to act upon. I do this already, but my assessments are not always standard. It would be a relatively easy change.
How can we go about making this change?