FairTest: You can't judge learning with a standardized test

LOL then how do we test "creativity"

While I agree that the education system in America has gaping flaws, I think that its success is unfairly judged in comparison with virtually every other country. Why? We are the only country that tests everybody. So when America's high school students' skills are compared to those around the world, we look worse because 100 percent of our students are being compared to only the best in the other countries. Something to think about.

Testing can identify problem kids. But the way tests are used now they're a fraud because their predictive value is LESS than that of simply using grades. Why use an expensive tool when a better tool/data set already exists? Instead wealthy parents get their offspring into college more easily because they can afford expensive prep classes. School time is wasted and not spent learning to use reason, to practice, to investigate. No wonder the US compares so extremely poorly to other nations.

Multiple choice questions are an insult to intelligence. Essay writing and solving problems with extended response should be used to judge students' progress. Who better than teachers can assess the students? It is time to move away from for profit companies to create tests and evaluate students. Teachers can be paid by the states to grade students' reading, writing and math.

Illinois just made the decision to "rescore" the ISAT due to obvious flaws. Standardized tests are a political tool used to make parents believe the governement is acting for education. Why not use the money spent by the military for education?

And follow the friends of the CEO's company banking most of the money for testing. You will understand why the NCLB law was created...

The video argues that applying what one has learned is more important than filling in bubbles. If a student cannot correctly answer test questions about material they have learned, that directly contradicts the notion of applying learned material. I will be researching the information on your website for answers but what I have seen so far makes me question whether what the group advocates is grounded in logic.

AMEN!

Totally agree with the sentiment, but c'mon, would it have been so hard not to split an infinitive in the narration?? ("..to quickly fill in bubbles on a test answer sheet...") Anybody pitching education reform should get the grammar right! That said: Right on.