While studying the topic of standardized testing, I managed to learn a number of new facts that will certainly assist me in the future. First of all, it is important to define the term of standardized tests, which are the assessments that are given to large amounts of students, that is why they are called that way. During these trials, all participants answer the same questions under the same conditions, usually in a multiple-choice format (Eggen & Kauchak, 2020, p. 669). One of the advantages that I learned is that while they do not measure the ability to think innovatively, they make it easy to evaluate the level of students’ knowledge. Moreover, due to the simplicity of this method, standardized tests are used across the country.
Nevertheless, it was interesting to learn that this type of exam was met with a huge backlash. Several researchers argued that standardized tests are incapable of evaluating the ability to understand complex material, writing skills, and creativity (Eggen & Kauchak, 2020, p. 667). In addition, it is also impossible to estimate the results of teachers’ performance since such tests do not help them to determine deeper gaps in learning. Another disadvantage is that standards inevitably narrow the curriculum, which closes opportunities for students to gather more knowledge.
Furthermore, there are a number of biases that are connected with standardized tests. For instance, students’ diversity has a big impact on the validity of these exams, especially in cases where a learner is not a Native English speaker. The language barrier may prevent them from fully understanding the concept of such tests, the procedure and time limits, which can seriously disrupt the outcomes. For this reason, a teacher should take the role of a supporter who provides assistance to members of minority groups. Scholl staff must make sure that students perfectly understand not only the content that will be evaluated but also the procedure. Moreover, interpreting results in a proper way is also vital because some tests are important for learners’ future. Therefore, this process should be free of all biases that can have a negative impact on the validity of standardized tests.
Reference
Eggen, P. & Kauchak, D. (2020). Using educational psychology in teaching. (11th ed.) Pearson Prentice Hall.