Texas Teach
Posts: 2084
Joined: April 2007
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| Quote (OgreMkV @ Mar. 29 2012,11:57) | | Quote (Texas Teach @ Mar. 29 2012,11:26) | Ogre,
I've got a question that maybe you can answer. Our lovely state has been field testing the new STAAR exams (and keeping me from having any days to teach). Since the kids know it doesn't count, many of them have put zero effort into doing it. For example, one coach at a recent academic competition told me half his class raised their hands that they were finished immediately after he finished the instructions. Is there actually some way to get useful data out of that, or are they just wasting our time? |
Nope, if the students don't take it seriously, then it's a waste of effort.
It should be readily obvious to the statisticians too.
STAAR is an End-Of-Course test right? In that case (and this is just my opinion), I'd like to see students get no credit for the course until they pass the test.
If students pass the test, the first time in early April, then they are done with that class and can go home. If not, then teachers use the results of the test to develop tutorials aimed at those students and test again in 4 weeks or so. (BTW: I'm working on a project that will allow much greater detail in determining why a student got a question wrong, allowing a more refined tutorial program.
EOC tests test the curriculum, so if teachers are 'teaching to the test', then they are teaching the curriculum... unlike the TAKS in which 3 entire years of curriculum were boiled down into 8 questions, 4 of which were always of the same type... which could be taught.
I don't know if that answers your question though... |
It does thanks. I'm both excited and nervous about the EOCs. Excited for the reasons you listed. Nervous because I can imagine how the admins will torture us in new and exciting ways.
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"Creationists think everything Genesis says is true. I don't even think Phil Collins is a good drummer." --J. Carr
"I suspect that the English grammar books where you live are outdated" --G. Gaulin
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