Date post: | 26-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | iris-alexander |
View: | 214 times |
Download: | 0 times |
EDUCATION
Standardized testing
– obsolete?
Standardised TestConstructed by specialist and experts
Based on standardised norms and principles
Administered and scored in a consistent, predetermined manner
Standardised TestIn Singapore:
PSLE – Primary 6
‘O’ Levels – Secondary 4
‘A’ Levels – JC 2
Pros
PracticalityLess time for preparation of test
Easy administration
Smooth grading
Empirical documentation
ObjectivityNon-standardised test based on individual
teacher’s opinion of student’s performance
May lead to biasness
Instigator of ChangePattern emerges after a school / region
conducts many of such tests
Problems identified quickly
Change can brought about
AccountabilityBenchmark is set
Students can work towards goals of common standards
Leads to achievement gains
Test is taken seriously
StandardizationStudents are exposed to the same basic
material
Regardless of demographics of schools
Improve social mobility
Cons
Only when standardized
tests and testing are overused,
misused and over-emphasied
DishonestyHigh-stake tests
Stress: for students, teachers and schools
Results have to be improved by hook or by crook
Dishonesty
Teaching to the TestStudents who are well-versed with examination-
formatted questions do better
Teachers spend more time to prepare students on examination structure
Topics may be overlooked due to time constraint
"Standardized tests can't measure initiative, creativity, imagination, conceptual thinking, curiosity, effort, irony, judgment, commitment, nuance, good will, ethical reflection, or a host of other valuable dispositions and attributes. What they can measure and count are isolated skills, specific facts and function, content knowledge, the least interesting and least significant aspects of learning."
— Bill Ayers
BiasnessAgainst certain students
Standardised tests do not take into account diversity
Impact on StudentsDoing poorly results in:
Depression
Teacher’s morale lowered – negative attitude towards student
Punishment instead of encouragement
Unhealthy competition levels
ElitismElite schools tend to do better
Students attributed with having families of higher social status and wealth
Standardised test is a tool to show off
S’pore’s education
– breed elitism?
Elitism people with intellect,
wealth, specialized training, or other distinctive attributes
to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight; whose views and/or actions are most likely to be constructive to society
Mindset
Attitude
YESWhy?
Why?GEP
DSA EESIS IP SMP MPP
Examples?Wee Shu Min
“get out of my elite uncaring face”
A 12-year-old girl
Examples?
“It is not enough to succeed, others must fail”
Gore Vidal
Rise of IP schools Give rise to elitism?
Assumption Utopian
Criticism
Bilingualism in multicultural society
–problem unique to S’pore?
Canada Migrants
Officially Bilingualism
Asymmetrical application of edu rights in Canada
-Quebec’s English-education
Problems
-English speakers’ children forced to speak French
India Almost no immigrants
Hindi-official union language
English-official work language
22 recognized regional language
National language: not defined
IndiaTaught 3 languages from 1st grade
Problems:
-Communication obstacle
-A country that divided into north (Hindi) and south (Dravidian)
-why China is progressing more rapidly than India
Bilingual educationAnother way of thinking
Overseas study chances
Business opportunities
Positive effects on economy