University of the People
(Department of Education)
EDUC 5220 - Curriculum Design and Instructional Decision Making
UNIT 7: Curriculum and Evaluation
Instructor: Dr. Amanda Selby
August 2023
Introduction
Standardized testing as the name suggests is standardized, one-size-fits-all
kind of testing. All the takers of the tests answer the exact same questions and are
evaluated in the exact same manner. There is no room for any kind of modifications
or accommodation to suit individual students. For example, an ELL student will take
the same English test taken by a native speaker and evaluated using the same
rubric.
A standardized test is any test that (1) asks all test takers to answer the same
questions or a set of questions from a common bank of questions in the same way,
and (2) that is scored in a "standard" or consistent manner, allowing for comparison
of the relative performance of individual students or groups of students. While
various tests and assessments may be "standardized" in this way, the term is most
frequently related to large-scale exams given to large student populations, such as a
multiple-choice exam given to all eighth-grade students in a given state(Standardized
test definition - The glossary of education reform 2015).
Here are some of the pros of using standardized testing.
1. They Aid in Monitoring Educational Progress: Schools need metrics they can
depend on to assess students' progress and determine whether teachers are
effectively implementing the curriculum. The use of standardized tests gives
educational boards and regulatory bodies a way to assess whether stated
educational goals are being met according to grade level. Standardized test
administration on an annual basis also aids in the formation of a year-overyear analysis of advancements made and establishes benchmarks from
which school boards can assess whether they have deviated from or
surpassed the existing average of education being taught. Standardized
testing is a valid method for allowing schools to compare their students'
academic performance between years(Yashinsky, 2023).
2. It holds stakeholders and educators responsible: Results from standardized
tests provide accurate information about teachers' effectiveness across
school districts. Even though it would be a mistake to rely solely on this data
for teacher evaluations, districts can still use it to collect useful information
that they can then combine with other data sources to determine how
effective a teacher is. A more complete picture of how educators are doing
results from more information. Additionally, test results can alert school
boards and superintendents to potential issues with student learning in their
district. Local governments can determine when it may be appropriate to
intervene by taking an objective look at student performance(Gardner , 2023).
3. They Aid in Finding Opportunities for Improvement: As a result of
standardized testing, it is possible to identify curriculum gaps and create
lesson plans to address them. It would be beneficial for a school to know it
needs to improve its math curriculum and instruction if, for instance,
standardized tests within the school revealed that the average test results in
math were below grade level. Standardized tests provide a way to assess
whether or not schools are fulfilling their identified learning goals(Yashinsky,
2023).
4. Standardized tests are reliable and uniform: Standardized tests offer a
trustworthy and unbiased way to judge the learning and achievement of
students. Standardized tests require all test takers to respond to the same set
of questions, which increases the consistency and objectivity of the test
results even though it is challenging to eliminate all aspects of impartiality
when it comes to scoring tests(Yashinsky, 2023).
5. Standardized Tests Are Efficient: The majority of standardized tests are
evaluated by computers or artificial intelligence (AI), which reduces the cost,
time, and efficiency of testing. Standardized tests produce a large amount of
educational data, are simple to analyze, and paint a comprehensive picture of
the state of education. In essence, standardized tests provide the government
and regulatory bodies with an effective, affordable method of extracting
significant amounts of educational data without the burden of high
associated costs and time commitment(Yashinsky, 2023).
Here are some of the cons of using standardized testing.
1. Standardized Tests Are Not Comprehensive: It's crucial that when it comes to
standardized tests, schools do not view test results as an accurate
representation of a student's academic abilities because other factors that
are important to the student's abilities and competencies are ignored. Too
many people falsely believe that the results of standardized tests offer a
neutral, authoritative evaluation of a child's intellectual capacity. How well a
student performs can be severely impacted by cultural factors, unfamiliarity
with testing procedures, test anxiety, and illness. Because of this, it's crucial
to look beyond a student's test results(Nixon, n.d.).
2. Lack of individualization: Standardized tests use the same set of guidelines
for all students taking the assessment, disregarding their individual learning
preferences. Treating every student the same ignores crucial differences in
how we absorb information and comprehend academic material(Yashinsky,
2023).
3. They Lead to Stress: For both students and teachers, standardized testing
can be a major source of stress. It is common knowledge that many students
do poorly on tests, but this does not necessarily imply that they lack
knowledge or education compared to those who do well. Standardized tests
cause performance anxiety, and many students believe their acceptance into
elite universities is heavily dependent on their test scores. Because student
performance reflects how well children are being taught, standardized tests
also serve as an indirect method of evaluating teachers. Although it might be
perceived that way, it is evident that when students perform poorly due to
stress-related factors, this does not negatively reflect on the
teacher(Yashinsky, 2023).
4. Educators "teach to the test": When teachers have to get students ready for
standardized tests, it can affect how they teach the subject matter and lead to
them "teaching to the test" rather than focusing on making sure the students
truly understand it. Teaching for the test frequently involves memorization of
answers rather than serious engagement with the learning process. This is
known as the "banking model" in education, according to Paolo Friere, which
discourages critical and creative thinking and promotes superficial
memorization of facts(Yashinsky, 2023).
5. They Have a Negative Impact on Students' Self-Esteem: It's common for
students who perform poorly on standardized tests to believe that these
results reflect poorly on their general intelligence and ability to succeed.
Unfortunately, test results can negatively affect a student's perception of their
own academic abilities and can impede their future progress. When the
student's attitude toward education and learning is affected, they may
become disengaged as they continue their education(Yashinsky, 2023).
Conclusion
Standardized testing has benefits, including promoting accountability and
giving a consistent measurement of academic performance. It does, however, have
some drawbacks, such as its restricted application and potential harm to students'
wellbeing.
It is crucial to combine standardized testing with other assessment
techniques that evaluate a wider range of skills and abilities in order to strike a
balance. In addition to standardized testing, formative assessments, project-based
evaluations, and teacher-developed tests can offer a more thorough understanding
of a student's abilities.
As a PYP teacher, I have not used standardized testing in my milieu. The only
test that mimics standardized testing is the pre-tests which help us to understand
where our students stand in terms of their learning and to guide us of the future
course of action in our teaching. If standardized testing were to become a part of my
practice in the future, I would try to use it as one of many assessment tools rather
than the only way to gauge a student's aptitudes. To better meet individual learning
needs and promote a more well-rounded educational experience, a holistic
evaluation strategy should be ensured. To reduce its potential negative effects on
students and educators, I would also promote the responsible and thoughtful use of
standardized testing.
References
Gardner , A. (2023, March 9). 10 standardized testing pros and cons. TeacherVision.
https://www.teachervision.com/blog/morning-announcements/10standardized-testing-pros-and-cons
Nixon, B. (n.d.). The Pros and cons of standardized testing. Whitby School.
https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/the-pros-and-cons-ofstandardized-testing
Standardized test definition - The glossary of education reform. (2015, December
11). https://www.edglossary.org/standardized-test/
Yashinsky, D. (2023, July 20). 20 standardized tests pros and cons. Helpful Professor.
https://helpfulprofessor.com/standardized-test-proscons/#:~:text=PRO%3A%20They%20help%20teachers%20to,rote%20learning
%20method%20of%20teaching.