There is Nothing Authentic About Paper and Pencil Tests
Most educators would agree that standardized testing has a purpose. It can provide a big picture view of student learning and periodic snapshots of mastery. But, what about authentic and alternative measures of learning? The Common Core claims to assess performance but, it will require students to use their math and literacy skills to solve only paper and pencil problems.
How can authentic
classroom experience be designed to support the Common Core Standards? The first
step is to select one or two standards and then develop a progression from the
standard, to instructional objectives, learning targets, high yield
instruction, application of learning in real-world situations, and a range of
assessments including formative, interim, and summative.
For example rather than
asking students to calculate the perimeter and area of geometric shapes they
could use those shapes to construct a town, robot, or 3D map within the
constraints of a given area. In the classroom teachers can pre-assess student’s
knowledge of shapes and formulas then target instruction to the gaps in learning. During
instruction students can play a grab bag game where they match the shape to the
formula. Finally, before the summative test, students write their own test
questions and quiz each other.
These types of strategies
blend the knowledge required for large-scale assessment with strategies that
engage students in building this knowledge and demonstrating their
proficiencies.
posted by Assessment Network @ 3:15 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
I would have to agree that there is nothing authentic about a paper and pencil test. While the Common Core State Standards require students to apply mathematic and literacy knowledge through paper and pencil test, that does not mean, in the classroom, that teachers have to resort to, and constantly "practice" paper and pencil testing.
There are a lot of advantages of using authentic and alternative assessments. Students can develop skills (computer, drawing, diagrams) that will aid them in successful endeavors. It also allows students to be creative and utilize hobbies or interests that they may not be able to use in the classroom everyday. By creating authentic and alternative assessments for the classroom students will become more engaged, interested, and invested in the success of their assessment pieces.
As teachers, using alternative and authentic assessments in the classroom, it will allow for frequent formative assessments. Teacher will be able to quickly analyze where the student is having difficultly, where they are succeeding, and make judgements on if the student may need to be challenged more. These types of formative assessments by the teacher will also allow the teacher to check his/her teaching methods; are they successful, do he/she need to reteach anything, where does he/she go from here to bridge the learning?
By allowing students to demonstrate their proficiencies, it will boost their self-conficence and overall encourage better assessment scores. I think by mixing paper and pencil assessments with authentic and alternative assessments, the classroom dynamic will be positive. Also the teacher could see improved test scores because the learning is meaningful and memorable.
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