What's Missing?
This is not a multiple choice question and it's not a trick question. Feel free to add your own answer to the prompt: What is missing in assessment today?
My answer to that question is logic and balance. Let me explain my analysis and conclusion with a story. My son was an average student in elementary school. He complained about the stories that he had to read and was a more engaged reader when he came home and could read Ranger Rick or National Geographic for Kids. In school he read literature and wrote narratives. He did well in math but until middle school his language arts grades were ordinary. In 8th grade, during career day, he listened to a Pfizer scientist explain his research. In the course of that day, my son decided that he too, wanted to be a scientist. Since that day he completed high school at the top of his class, scored 5s on his AP biology, chemistry, and physics tests, earned a Bachelor's degree in biochemistry and completed a PhD in molecular and cell biology. He is now working as a research scientist, searching for a cure to infectious diseases.
Clearly, I'm proud of him, but my point is that if he were allowed to flounder through years of standardized test preparation in language arts and if we hadn't seen his STEM spark and arranged for enrichment, there's a good chance he would be a frustrated scientist and mediocre literary writer. He now writes for scientific journals and presents at international conferences.
The logic of waiting until all children achieve mastery on standardized tests, combined with the emphasis on a narrow set of standards, is hurting our children and doing irreparable harm to our future. It's time to change this lock-step progression. For children who need additional time and support to develop mastery, it is essential to provide that. Rather than keeping everyone on the bunny slope, move those who are move advanced to the black diamond trails. Let's support their progression to the 21st century skills that will move our country forward and make it globally competitive. This means assessments must be developed that measure skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity. There needs to be logic in what we teach and balance in the way we assess.