"A child's learning is the function more of the characteristics of his classmates than those of the teacher." James Coleman, 1972

Friday, March 14, 2014

Nonstop hi-tech testing

Sent to the Los Angeles Times, March 14, 2014

Not mentioned in the Times' editorials  (March 13, 14) is the astonishing amount of testing required by the Common Core and the requirement that testing must be done online.

No Child Left Behind "only" required tests at the end of year in reading and math in grades 3-8 and once in high school. The common core aims to test all subjects in all grades, and includes interim tests to be given throughout the school year. There is also discussion of pretesting in the fall, to judge "improvement."

To take the tests, students must be connected to the Internet with up-to-date computers. After the computers are in place, there will be continual upgrades and replacements, as well as major changes as technology "progresses."  The one billion set aside by Gov. Brown is only the beginning.

There is no evidence that massive online testing will benefit students in any way. 

Stephen Krashen

"In defense of the common core," Editorial, March 13.
"Common core learning curve," Editorial, March 14

Sources:
Huge increase in testing, interim testing, pretests: Krashen, S. 2012. How much testing? http://dianeravitch.net/2012/07/25/stephen-­‐ krashen-­‐how-­‐much-­‐testing/
 and: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/

One billion only the beginning: Krashen, S. and Ohanian, S. 2011. High Tech Testing on the Way: a 21st Century Boondoggle? http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2011/04/high_tech_testing_on_the_way_a.html

No evidence that massive testings benefits students: Nichols, S., Glass, G., and Berliner, D. 2006. High-stakes testing and student achievement: Does accountability increase student learning? Education Policy Archives 14(1).
http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v14n1/. OECD. Tienken, C., 2011. Common core standards: An example of data-less decision-making. Journal of Scholarship and Practice. American Association of School Administrators [AASA], 7(4): 3-18. http://www.aasa.org/jsp.aspx.





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