Standardized Testing

Definition: any form of a test that (1) requires all test takers to answer the same questions, or a selection of questions from a common bank of questions, in the same way, and that (2) is scored in a “standard” or consistent manner

Why it's used...

• To test large numbers of students quickly.

Where it began...

• 1st used in 7th century imperial China to test knowledge of Confucian philosophy and poetry.

Accurate reflection of student learning in the classroom?
"many items on standardized achievement tests really focus on assessing knowledge and/or skills learned outside of school—knowledge and/or skills more likely to be learned in some socioeconomic settings than in others.” (Popham, 1999)

Alternatives...

• Stealth Assessment-record of progress
• Multiple Measures-social and emotional skills
• Game based assessments

Teacher concerns...

• Too much wasted time associated with standardized tests
• Too much pressure for high scores

References

• Fletcher, D (2009). A Brief History of Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1947019,00.html
• NPR (2015). What Schools Could Use Instead of Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/01/06/371659141/what-schools-could-use-...
• Walker, T. (2014). NEA Survey: Nearly Half of Teachers Consider Leaving Profession Due to Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://neatoday.org/2014/11/02/nea-survey-nearly-half-of-teachers-consider-...
• Popham, J. (1999). Why Standardized Tests Don’t Measure Educational Quality. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/W...
• Education Reform (2015). Standardized Test. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/standardized-test/

References continued...

• Walker, T. (2014). NEA Survey: Nearly Half of Teachers Consider Leaving Profession Due to Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://neatoday.org/2014/11/02/nea-survey-nearly-half-of-teachers-consider-...

References continued...

• Popham, J. (1999). Why Standardized Tests Don’t Measure Educational Quality. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/W...

References continued...

• Education Reform (2015). Standardized Test. Retrieved from http://edglossary.org/standardized-test/