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Pros and Cons to Standardized vs Authentic
7
By Devine Elliott, Nicole Wagner, and Zackary Thompson
What are these assessments?
Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing vs Authentic Assessments
What is Standardized Testing?
When all the students taking the test have to respond to the same set of carefully selected questions.
Standardized Testing
The Goal of Standardized Tests
The Goal
Standardized tests are done for all students in the same way. They are objective and non-biased. It is to rank students from best to worse and keep track of their demographics.
History of Standardized Tests
History
Different Types
Different types of Standardized Testing
- Norm-referenced tests
- The tests focus on the student's score relative to the other students in the normative sample.
- Examples: Exams written by teachers, i.e. spelling tests, math tests etc.
- Criterion-referenced tests
- These tests are used to compare the skills and performance of students in a given content area to a standard.
- Examples: FSA, EOC etc.
Pros
Pros of Standardized Testing
• Standardized testing helps pinpoint areas for improvement
• Helps shows administration where the students are struggling at and where help is needed
• It Creates a Universal Standard for Education
• It can help an education system better compare students from very different backgrounds because all these students took the exact same test
• Standardized testing provides an inclusive opportunity
• Since testing does not differentiate from one school to another, standardized testing can help under-performing students master academic material despite the students not performing well. It gives an equal opportunity for the students.
Cons
Cons of Standardized Testing
- Measure only a small portion of education
- It can create major stress.
- The standardized tests do not evaluate critical thinking, creativity, or other knowledge areas. They only evaluate rote knowledge of certain subjects.
- Some students do not take the test seriously
- Many teachers start teaching to the test.
- Sometimes, students have shown clear understanding of a concept or subject through various assessments, but they are not skilled enough to take multiple choice tests.
What is Authentic Assessments?
Authentic assessments are designed to evaluate student's abilities and goals. They are structured to be meaningful and actionable.
Authentic Assessments
The Goal of Authentic Assessments
The Goal
Authentic assessments are designed to make sure that students are fully immersed in the material. They do not ask them to recall information or write an answer.
History of Authentic Assessments
History
In the 1990s, reformist Grant Wiggins argued that forced choice tests did not produce true academic performance. Standardized testing was criticized for focusing on basic skills and leaving out higher-order thinking.
Examples
Authentic Assessment Examples
- Self-assessment
- Journal entries (reflective writing)
- Presentations
- Discussion (partners or groups)
- Character analysis
- Teacher-created tests
- Essays
- Projects
Pros
Pros to Authentic Assessments
- Allows teachers to understand a students progress in learning and adapt the lessons to the students needs.
- Helps students to develop skills needed for work place challenges.
- Allows alternative ways for students to show what they have learned.
- Allows teachers to easily combine assessments with the instruction.
- Provides an opportunity for team building, collaboration and relational skills, when needed.
Cons
Cons to Authentic Assessments
- It is difficult to assess
- It makes more work and time to prepare
- It is not cost effective
- When not arranged properly, the outcome can be different from expectation.
- It may not allow students to demonstrate their full capacity in the subject.
Stress-Free Ways to Prepare Students for Testing
Stress-Free Ways to Prepare Students for Testing
- Avoid cramming for the test
- Practice multiple-choice questions
- Foster a growth mindset
- Teach mindfulness
- Speed test
- Minimize testing importance
- Help students build confidence
- Gamification
- Review
- Remember no two students are the same
Conclusion
Conclusion
Both the Standardized Testing and Authentic Assessments have their flaws and benefits. As time goes on, many professionals start to veer away from traditional teaching methods. We must start asking ourselves if this is the best method for our students.
Although traditional teaching has its own advantages, many argue that a combination of both is best for children.
References
References
ProCon.Org. (2020, December 7). Do Standardized Tests Improve Education in America?
Standardized Tests. https://standardizedtests.procon.org/
Solley, B. A. (2009). Standardized Testing Has Negatively Impacted Public Schools. In D.
Haugen & S. Musser (Eds.), Opposing Viewpoints. Education. Greenhaven Press. (Reprinted from Childhood Education, 2007, Fall, 31-37) https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010129275/OVIC?u=lincclin_bwcc&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=05487947
Standardized Testing. (2020). In Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale.
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999023/OVIC?u=lincclin_bwcc&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=0673d45e
“Traditional vs. Authentic Assessment.” Principles and Methods of Assessment, 22
July 2015, https://abdao.wordpress.com/2015/07/18/traditional-vs-authentic-assessment/.
“Authentic Assessment.” Authentic Assessment | Institute for Teaching Excellence,
https://www.njit.edu/ite/authentic-assessment.