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Assessment Overview: Beyond Standardized Testing
Performance assessments offer a richer, more holistic approach to evaluating what students know and can do. More to this story.
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Release Date: 1/21/02
Running Time: 9 min.
Video Credits
Produced, Written, and Directed by
- Ken Ellis
Associate Producers:
- Roberta Furger
- Leigh Iacobucci
- Diane Curtis
- Roberta Furger
- Sara Armstrong
Editor:
- Karen Sutherland
Camera Crew:
- Eric Seguim-Arnold
- Jon Dobovan
- Ken Ellis
- Ward Laver
- Gabriel Miller
- Lewis Trusty
- William Turnley
Narrator:
- Susan Blake
Additional Footage Courtesy of
- The College Board
- © 2002
- The George Lucas Educational Foundation
- All rights reserved.
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interesting
Submitted by caitlain (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 18:19.
I have always been one who thought that standardized testing is nto a very good show of what students are actually capable of. I thought this movie would make me believe this more. On the contrary, I think this made me more confused if nothing else. performance based testing seems to be great but it may be better paired with testing of sorts. I love the idea behind this but I couldn't help but think how many students I know that have done projects like this and simply done enough to get a good grade. Group projects make me nervous because your grades is in others hands and inevitably someone does most of the work. I know for a fact I did at least one porject where I couldn't tell you anything from the presentation but I get an A. This to me is the same as the SAT. I don't remember anything that was on it but I did well. I think this movie made me more confused because now I don't know that I feel either one could work.
Great Video
Submitted by Mike F (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 18:04.
After viewing the video, it brought back some interesting memories. When I graduated high school in 1994, my class was the first class that had to pass all four parts of the Ohio Proficiency Test in order to graduate. There were students who had GPA's well over 3.0 but couldn't graduate with our class because of one test. In the video, Linda Darling makes the point that we are over testing and under examining our students. I think that is true. The video supports her further by stating that testing gives little indication of real world experiences. Our world is not as organized as a test seems to prepare our students for.
I also liked the viewpoint of Performance Based Assesments. PBA's are more hands on and gives the students the opportunity to see the fruits of their labor. When a student can physically see the outcome of their hard work, it may keep them engaged to keep working.
performance based testing
Submitted by DH (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 14:02.
Excellent video as I agree that standardized testing is not a true mesure and must go. Furthermore, performance based testing, if done properly, gives a very true indication of a students strengths and weaknesses. One can not simply bluff theri way through a presentation without knowing the subject material. Also, performance based testing gives real world experience in presentation, social, and teamwork skills which are needed in the post education real world. I believe this is the wave of the future usig perfomance based testing and concentrating on a studens m. intelligences. In conclusion, solving real world problems instead of circling multiple guess answers for some hypothical situation is vastly superior for building academics, real world knowledge, and interpersonal skills.
I love the idea of testing a
Submitted by Ursula (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 13:40.
I love the idea of testing a students ability to apply a concept, through performance based assessments, rather than assessing the students stratospheric testing skills on a standardized test. Because we are primarily only testing one way we are ruling out so many kids, whose test score will determine much of their future. Is it really fair to say to a kid who can rebuild an automobile engine, but scores poorly on the SAT or ACT, that there is no way he can be an engineer? This is what we are doing.
Very interesting
Submitted by Adrian (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 09:20.
I thought that this video was intersting in the fact that there are teachers out there not just teaching academic work based on standarized tests. The other day I was talking with a teacher who is in an SED room, and he was telling how difficult it is in trying to teacher his students based on the guidlenes of the state tests. He mentioned that he feels that he sometimes loses that teacher/student relationship because he has to stay focused on these guidelines. My wife is a teacher and she does not like it either. At the end of each year she is told how her students perform on these tests and she feels responsible for these students to perform well on these tests. My question is are these test preparing the students for the real world? The ideas and projects shown in the video seem to be preparing the students better to be successful outside of school compared to some standarized tests. I think all schools and teachers should utilize the ideas shown in this video.
Excitement
Submitted by Kathy Varian (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 13:51.
I am studying to become a teacher but I am not quite there yet. What I have learned thus far is that teachers learn about students by using a variety of methods. They assess students by observing them in the classroom,evaluating their day-to-day classwork, grading their homework assignments,meeting with their parents,keeping close records of how they change or grow throughout the year and how they take tests.
Tests give teachers only part of the picture of a child' strengths and weaknesses. Teachers combine the results of many methods to gain well-rounded insights into the skills, abilities, and knowledge of your child.
That being the case, why don't colleges also use similar information when they assess students for college?
What I found interesting about the video are some of the individual comments. For example, just because a student is a good test take does not mean that they know how to apply that knowledge. A good portion of students are passed up just because they did not score well on a standardized test.
I like the idea of colleges using outside assessment persons to assign projects and then evaluate them in addition to a standarized test. Perhaps then a college counsleor could see "what they actually knew and how they applied it".
I'll leave this food for thought. What if Albert Einstein tested poorly? Would anyone have listened to his ideas?
Excellent. I agree with
Submitted by Tammy J (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 07:54.
Excellent. I agree with focusing on real world application of knowledge aquired. When working in the business world it will be about taking information and using it to problem solve. I liked the comment by Mr. Gardner about the world does not provide you with multiple choice answers to problems. It is really based on how we actively use the knowledge that will determine whether we are learning.
It would also allow the students to look at what they like to do. The teacher that gave the students the opportunity to create their own schools was excellent. Could you not take that project and determine that you love or hate architecture, math, project management. What a great way to experience career opportunity before you get to college. I also loved the presentation aspect of the projects. What excellent preparation for college and the work world.
Great Ideas
Submitted by C Fisher (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 07:13.
After watching the video, I wondered why performance base testing was not applied when I was in school. I think this is a wonderful idea for this generation and beyond. With the advancement of technology and students who learn in so many different ways I think this is one way that can show how much a student really knows. In my opinion Standardized test is not teaching for understanding, instead it is forcing teachers to teach to the test and teaching students to memorize instead of internalize the information that is given to them. Standardized test are not teaching our students to think for themselves, the question I have for those who made the mandates for these test is, "How will Standardized testing help students in the real world when they have to make decision on their own?" I do believe that those who set forth to have students reach a certain standard had good intentions, but, did they realize students would not be learning, and teachers would not be teaching. In the video, there is true learning taking place. Students have to come up with ideas for their projects, they have to gather the information, and then demonstrate how much they learned and present it for a grade. This style of teaching is combining the different intelligences, encouraging independent learning, and higher level thinking which is needed when students go to college and join the rat race. As much as I don't like taking test I do feel they are needed, but as the video demonstrates there must be a variety, with variety, it helps the students learn and it helps make school fun and cool.
Great Ideas
Submitted by C Fisher (not verified) on November 30, 2008 - 00:34.
After watching the video, I wondered why performance base testing was not applied when I was in school. I think this is a wonderful idea for this generation and beyond. With the advancement of technology and students who learn in so many different ways I think this is one way that can show how much a student really knows. In my opinion Standardized test is not teaching for understanding, instead it is forcing teachers to teach to the test and teaching students to memorize instead of internalize the information that is given to them. Standardized test are not teaching our students to think for themselves, the question I have for those who made the mandates for these test is, "How will Standardized testing help students in the real world when they have to make decision on their own?" I do believe that those who set forth to have students reach a certain standard had good intentions, but, did they realize students would not be learning, and teachers would not be teaching. In the video, there is true learning taking place. Students have to come up with ideas for their projects, they have to gather the information, and then demonstrate how much they learned and present it for a grade. This style of teaching is combining the different intelligences, encouraging independent learning, and higher level thinking which is needed when students go to college and join the rat race. As much as I don't like taking test I do feel they are needed, but as the video demonstrates there must be a variety, with variety, it helps the students learn and it helps make school fun and cool.
Purpose gone awry
Submitted by Blaine M (not verified) on November 29, 2008 - 19:10.
I understand the allure of standardized testing in that it is an "easy" way to compare students from different schools, communities, and states but there is nothing easy about measuring the abilities of a student. There has to be a more complete and balanced method of testing.
One of the benefits of performance based testing is the necessity for the student to know the subject matter. In order to be able to complete these projects they will need to have a solid understanding of the material in order to succeed on the test. Learning material and learning to perform are not mutually exclusive. In order to perform successfully the student must know the material. They work hand in hand. In our jobs and careers we have to know both so why shouldn't students learn both?
I think a moderation between the two testing methods would be beneficial. The students would have show at least general knowledge of the subject in order to be involved in the performance testing. Then with that general knowledge they could be propelled into much deeper learning.
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