Assessing children helps to determine how a child is progressing in certain areas. Also, assessments can diagnose if a child have any learning and developmental problems. Teachers need to know how to serve each child needs. Assessing children will help teachers to recognize how and what to plan, and how to adjust the curriculum to meet the needs of all children.
In Northern Europe the school systems use the same curriculum for all children. The children living in Northern Europe do not start school until the age of 7. Finland uses very little standardized testing to assess students. Teachers assess students in Finland by using an open-ended assessment at the end of second and ninth grades. The feedback to the students from the assessment is in narrative form, explaining descriptions of their learning progress and area of growth. The open-ended assessment evaluates a child's problem-solving skills, analysis, and writing skills.
I would like to share with the readers of my blog, to always remember that all children are not "good" test-takers when using test to assess children. As educators, we need to be created prior to assessing children using test, maybe we can have a test taking workshop for the students and parents or share some test taking tips with the students prior to testing them.
P. Sahlberg, 2009, Educational Change in Finland, in A. Hargreaves, M. Fullan, A. Lieberman, and D. Hopkins (Eds.), International Handbook of Educational Change
Sherrine,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the insight into Finland's assessment process. That system seems like a much better evaluator of a child's skills because it gives a human touch to the assessment process and thus the ability to look at the reasoning behind certain answers and the ability to question the child further to better understand their thought process. I think maybe it would be beneficial to assess in this way maybe every other year or every 3 years to cut down the gap and maybe also incorporate some types of standardized testing, but not put such a huge emphasis on it being a predictor of successes and knowledge base. The pressure to perform under such a narrow set of assessment tools can provide for incorrect assessments which does no one any good.
-Alyson
I agree with you that testing isn't the most effective way to assess children. What if they have a bad on test day plus it is a lot of pressure. When there are test involved I think everyone is fearful of failure or not doing well and that would alter the result a little bit.
ReplyDeleteI like how you posted that we need to remember that all children are not good test takers. I would be one of them. It didn't matter how I prepared, I would be fine going into the test but you place that test in front of me and I froze. I did horrible on my ACT's, got a 16. I never took them again because I knew it would not do much better. I had a heck of a time with the placement tests for my community college. I tested into the lowest math and reading because they were all multiple choice and equations. The English one I did fine because I can write and essay. I now have been very successful in my collegiate career. I have two AA, two BS, and now working on my MA. Once I stopped having to take exams I have done much better. I do not believe that standardized testing should be used to show where students are at. I think that portfolios are a much better representation of where a student is at developmentally as it shows progression. If there is an area we need to see where the child is at, turn it into an activity or assignment depending on grade level. That should show it much more than what a standardized test will show.
ReplyDeleteI agree that all children are not good test takers. I myself was one of those children. Who excelled in my studies, but when it came time to take a test it seemed my mind went blank. My mother helped me overcome this over the years by getting me after school tutoring, where my peers would help me go over test taking strategies. Great job on your blog, they are always filled with great information.
ReplyDeleteI support your views on the need for assessing children. Infact when children needs are assessed, there is an understanding of the children's developmental status and condition allowing the teacher to be able to define the areas that are in need of attention.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of an open-ended assessment in narrative form. I feel like this would allow a larger range of students to be successful with the assessment, and that it would actually show where the students stand, individually. I could see it being difficult to grade the assessments, but I also see it being worth the extra work. Thank you for sharing that information.
ReplyDeleteJen
Hi Sherrine!
ReplyDeleteA myrith of thanks for sharing with me through out this course. I could be lost without your contributions. Thanks so much for there were very nutritive and encouraging. Good luck in all you embark on doing through out the program.
Veronica