tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post6569917352846738884..comments2023-04-24T23:09:57.655-04:00Comments on All Things Education: Virginia ed tech is for ed testingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-75273736705669444552013-06-09T08:10:47.161-04:002013-06-09T08:10:47.161-04:00@EC Yes, I go too far or rather I didn't go fa...@EC Yes, I go too far or rather I didn't go far enough in my thinking about on-line testing--I share all of your concerns. I meant simply that they are an improvement over paper and pencil but I mean for the students (with some exceptions) and for other purposes. The big picture is a different story.Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-42895265285664167142013-06-08T22:35:57.382-04:002013-06-08T22:35:57.382-04:00"I acknowledge that on-line assessments are a..."I acknowledge that on-line assessments are an improvement in principle"<br /><br />I know you qualify this with that "in principle," but I still think you go too far here. Not only will on-line assessments require massive investments in equipment that, unlike books, will be useless in a few years (I still use some books from the 1960s in my classroom), they will also lead to massive amounts of data that will inevitably be abused to promote this or that "evidence-driven" reform that will squeeze more time from real educational activity! Do we have any evidence that the use of data has ever actually improved education?<br /><br />Of course I agree with everything else you say.EChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14853888915441711738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-86515101732396111102013-06-05T20:16:35.142-04:002013-06-05T20:16:35.142-04:00@Leonie The new math tests have been explained to ...@Leonie The new math tests have been explained to me before, but I'm not so good at explaining them coherently myself. They're a mixture of multiple choice and other problem solving questions. I asked Gary Rubinstein to look at some sample questions see <a href="http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml" rel="nofollow">here</a> and tell me what he thought. He was not impressed.Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-50738576425118840232013-06-05T20:09:43.296-04:002013-06-05T20:09:43.296-04:00@Pam: Thanks for your comment! Yes, they are influ...@Pam: Thanks for your comment! Yes, they are influenced by other things, like background knowledge. I've heard that the ES Math SOLs, for example, have questions about restaurants and making coffee, so it's not just the math that's being tested. Most elementary-aged students are just along for the ride at restaurants, if they go to them at all, and they certainly don't make coffee. <br /><br />I agree with this that you said especially: "decontextualized, high-stakes tests are the least effective measure of student learning and performance." Decontextualized is such an apt word here. Rachel Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06844728669493681943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-64011370788033602522013-06-05T19:32:28.846-04:002013-06-05T19:32:28.846-04:00How do kids do online tests in math? Is their real...How do kids do online tests in math? Is their real problem solving or just multiple choice?Leonie Haimsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317355552298136811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2836584065506164163.post-60088724719478928382013-06-05T19:10:57.356-04:002013-06-05T19:10:57.356-04:00I am concerned that the new online test results ar...I am concerned that the new online test results are influenced by all kinds of variables other than mastery of standards. I also believe that decontextualized, high-stakes tests are the least effective measure of student learning and performance. I appreciate that the state commissioner of education in California has called for a testing moratorium to determine what makes sense and how to create balenced assessments vs. overboard testing. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17407082081896465942noreply@blogger.com