Problem 6
Assessment
1. What forms of assessment exist in education and what are their advantages and
disadvantages ?
High stakes exams:
Unintended outcomes of high stakes exams refers to not the primary effects intended for both
students and educators according to NCLB (No child left behind act).
I. Unintended outcomes for students and educators
1) The use of standardized tests for accountability: The exam scores have become the
way to assess the school and teacher quality (very limiting).
● Main purpose of NCLB was to increase accountability by implementing
assessments. Many people agree that teachers should be held accountable
(90%).Other people say it’s unfair because of out of control factors such as
socioeconomic factors, parental involvement, personal development and
abilities that differ from one person to another. Some organizations are against
using one score to make high stakes decisions for students.
● Problem of using high stakes is that it makes inferences about the quality of
schools and educators and oversimplifies the complexity of quality of
education. Schools are labeled based on student's grades. High stakes should
be used to make comparative assessment not judge quality.
● Problem: Make inference about teachers. When students do well, it is believed
that teachers are better. But teachers are not assessed when they help students
develop their social skills.
2) Effects on Instruction:
Made teachers adjust their material to the areas tested.
Positive outcome: help identify curricular weaknesses
➔ Have a standardized way to teach
➔ Teachers are more conscious of educational outcomes and align curriculum with
grade levels.
Negative outcomes: the curriculum is too extensive to be measured by one test and that it is
limited to what is tested.
➔ The goal of school is restricted to passing exams.
, ➔ Developing other creative and social skills, emotional and physical well being are not
taken into account.
➔ Limited materials make less engaging classes.
➔ Less time for in depth learning and understanding because it takes time.
➔ It not only affected what is taught but also how it is taught.
➔ Teachers teach to test which focuses on a low level of knowledge and skills based on
repetition and drill (exercises) and sample tests (40% of their time).
➔ Formulaic approaches for writing and other materials have limited the learning.
➔ Rigid schedules don’t give flexibility and often, children aren’t ready for that type of
knowledge
3) Effects on students and teachers motivation:
Intrinsic motivation: engaging in an activity because they enjoy it or are interested in.
Extrinsic motivation: engage in an activity as a means to an end.
● High stakes are extrinsic motivators. People use it to get other rewards such as
passing to the next year, or getting a car..Thus, most motivation students have is
extrinsic.
● Very few studies have been made on the effects of high stakes exams on intrinsic
motivation. Studies show that testing motivates students.
➔ Thus, even if there is short term extrinsic motivation, in the future intrinsic motivation
decreases and students will enjoy less materials. Testing has a negative impact on
students ‘love of learning” or no effect.
● Testing creates a stressful environment. Studies show students have negative
emotions when it comes to testing.
● Students can drop out of school. Students who are retained are more likely to drop
out. Teachers don’t spend enough time with students they see will fail.
● Teachers have also increased stress leading to lower teacher morale and less
enjoyment. Higher attrition rate (leaving school rate) because of testing (based on
their perceptions, more research needs to be done).
● Teachers' attrition and difficulty in teacher recruitment are consequences that affect
the quality of education of the school.
4) Other effects on Education:
● Testing is costly and takes funding from other areas.
Assessment
1. What forms of assessment exist in education and what are their advantages and
disadvantages ?
High stakes exams:
Unintended outcomes of high stakes exams refers to not the primary effects intended for both
students and educators according to NCLB (No child left behind act).
I. Unintended outcomes for students and educators
1) The use of standardized tests for accountability: The exam scores have become the
way to assess the school and teacher quality (very limiting).
● Main purpose of NCLB was to increase accountability by implementing
assessments. Many people agree that teachers should be held accountable
(90%).Other people say it’s unfair because of out of control factors such as
socioeconomic factors, parental involvement, personal development and
abilities that differ from one person to another. Some organizations are against
using one score to make high stakes decisions for students.
● Problem of using high stakes is that it makes inferences about the quality of
schools and educators and oversimplifies the complexity of quality of
education. Schools are labeled based on student's grades. High stakes should
be used to make comparative assessment not judge quality.
● Problem: Make inference about teachers. When students do well, it is believed
that teachers are better. But teachers are not assessed when they help students
develop their social skills.
2) Effects on Instruction:
Made teachers adjust their material to the areas tested.
Positive outcome: help identify curricular weaknesses
➔ Have a standardized way to teach
➔ Teachers are more conscious of educational outcomes and align curriculum with
grade levels.
Negative outcomes: the curriculum is too extensive to be measured by one test and that it is
limited to what is tested.
➔ The goal of school is restricted to passing exams.
, ➔ Developing other creative and social skills, emotional and physical well being are not
taken into account.
➔ Limited materials make less engaging classes.
➔ Less time for in depth learning and understanding because it takes time.
➔ It not only affected what is taught but also how it is taught.
➔ Teachers teach to test which focuses on a low level of knowledge and skills based on
repetition and drill (exercises) and sample tests (40% of their time).
➔ Formulaic approaches for writing and other materials have limited the learning.
➔ Rigid schedules don’t give flexibility and often, children aren’t ready for that type of
knowledge
3) Effects on students and teachers motivation:
Intrinsic motivation: engaging in an activity because they enjoy it or are interested in.
Extrinsic motivation: engage in an activity as a means to an end.
● High stakes are extrinsic motivators. People use it to get other rewards such as
passing to the next year, or getting a car..Thus, most motivation students have is
extrinsic.
● Very few studies have been made on the effects of high stakes exams on intrinsic
motivation. Studies show that testing motivates students.
➔ Thus, even if there is short term extrinsic motivation, in the future intrinsic motivation
decreases and students will enjoy less materials. Testing has a negative impact on
students ‘love of learning” or no effect.
● Testing creates a stressful environment. Studies show students have negative
emotions when it comes to testing.
● Students can drop out of school. Students who are retained are more likely to drop
out. Teachers don’t spend enough time with students they see will fail.
● Teachers have also increased stress leading to lower teacher morale and less
enjoyment. Higher attrition rate (leaving school rate) because of testing (based on
their perceptions, more research needs to be done).
● Teachers' attrition and difficulty in teacher recruitment are consequences that affect
the quality of education of the school.
4) Other effects on Education:
● Testing is costly and takes funding from other areas.
