Testing and Assessment- May 2023 Theme

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Testing and assessment are essential to the success of K20 education. From kindergarteners to college seniors, understanding students’ skills, abilities, and knowledge is required for academic excellence. However, there are varied approaches to testing and assessment. From state aptitude tests to the GRE, many standardized tests across K20 education exist. Additionally, students will participate in individual assessments, quizzes, exams, and more. So, if the entire industry agrees that assessment and testing are essential, what is the best way to test and assess students? 

This question may seem impossible to answer, but there is no doubt that within the many schools of thought, a consensus can be found for the benefit of the student, parents, teachers, and the education community. This month on edCircuit, thought leaders from K12 and EdTech will discuss strategies, advice, and recent developments concerning testing and assessment. To prepare readers, this article outlines a baseline for curriculum, the current challenges, and exciting developments across K20 and edtech. 

Challenges of Testing and Assessment

As many educators and education stakeholders know, many challenges are associated with standardized and normal classroom assessment. Although some efforts have made standardized testing more equitable, these challenges are apparent in every classroom nationwide. 

Notably, there is a clear separation between standardized tests and everyday assessments. Each has its unique issues. For example, standardized tests are often scrutinized for their efficacy in addressing educational challenges but are heavily regulated. On the other hand, everyday classroom assessment has less oversight and much more theoretical and pedagogical debate.

What Kind of Tests Are Students Taking?

We are all too familiar with the many kinds of standardized tests that students take. We can remember state-administered and college entry exams (SAT/ACT) throughout our lives. Standardized tests are not without their scrutiny. Many states and institutions of higher learning are even beginning to question whether they need to happen. For example, a growing list of colleges no longer require the ACT or SAT for admissions. Even many of the elite universities across the country have gone tests optional. 

However, as institutions are making headway to challenge preconceived ideas on standardized testing, there is another form of testing garnering attention. Everyday assessment in the classroom is essential, and these assessments tell us what students know, what they need to work on, and how teachers can support them.

Classroom Testing and Assessment

The three kinds of assessment teachers have in their tool belts are diagnostic, formative, and summative assessment. In simple terms, this is what the three kinds of the assessment show teachers. 

1. Diagnostic- take place before students engage in instruction about a subject. This assessment shows students’ background knowledge about a subject before they learn about it. 
2. Formative – takes place between unit instruction on a topic. They show what students have learned and what they need to cover. 
3. Summative – take place after the instruction of a topic, showing what students have learned throughout instruction.

Each of these assessments has a place in the classroom and comes with unique sets of data for teachers to use. There is also much more flexibility in these tests. One interesting case that shed light on the challenges of classroom assessment was the COVID-19 pandemic. Many schools canceled summative assessments during the pandemic because of their inability to oversee effective examinations. This necessary change led many to ask- what is the role of assessment in our schools? 

What are you testing?

On the standardized testing front, many parents are concerned that their students are learning how to test rather than learning materials and skills that will become apparent on standardized tests. Opting out of standardized tests has become a regular discussion in many households.  

Educators also have concerns about ‘teaching the test’ in standardized testing. The challenge for educators in everyday assessment is numerous as well. In some cases, teachers must track the data of their edtech assessment tools and use it to enhance classroom instruction. In others, teachers can access premade quizzes, homework, and exams through premade curricula such as textbooks. 

However, many teachers do not have access to additional assessment tools. School districts task these educators to create their resources for assessment purposes. This is where many debates between educators and education thought leaders occur. Because of the lack of standardization, there are a variety of opinions concerning their testing.

Of course, the goal of an assessment is to ensure that students acquire new knowledge and skills. There has been a push to make assessments more tactical for teachers. In many educators’ perfect world, students would take an assessment, and the test results would allow the teacher to assess what content has yet to be mastered; however, with the complication of grades, time, and resources, that is not always achievable. 

Further Reading on Testing and Assessment

If you are looking for resources on curriculum, below are a few edCircuit resources that can help you understand and improve curriculum planning in your home, classroom, or boardroom.

• 5 Approaches to Improve Assessment and Promote Learning – Authors share their approaches to improve assessment for learning rather than just assessment of learning. 
• Crafting a New Approach to Assessment – Michael Chiles, the author of The Craft of Assessment, examines a whole school approach to learning assessment.
• Breaking the Code of Education Assessment and Evaluation – Brian Aspinall discusses hacking the classroom and the role that constructivist learning plays, rethinking assessment, and evaluation.
• Rigorous Assessments: Not This, But That –  Incorporating higher levels of thinking in assignments will ultimately lead to increased learning. 
• 4 Strategies for Formative Assessment – We need to know as much as possible about what and how students learn, which needs to occur continually. Effective formative assessment strategies can help us understand where students are learning and how we can help them move forward. 
• Test Prep for Cognitive Testing – It’s a Myth – Many books are designed to help students score better on gifted cognitive tests. Many have concerns about test prep for cognitive testing. 
• Testing: How Much Is Too Much? – Dissatisfaction with standardized testing is growing. Moving forward, the education industry faces challenges to balance helping students become rounded critical thinkers and having some kind of accountability system to measure results.

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