Testing Time

Reader comment on: Obama on Testing

Submitted by ben (United States), Mar 28, 2011 20:15

The danger with the use/overuse of standardized tests is not an issue of how often, but what kind? The tests that are cheaper involve bubbling things in, which inevitably leads to teaching that relies far more heavily on the lower level thinking skills of remembering and comprehending. The tests that measure higher level thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation are far more expensive to create and grade. As a country, there is some benefit to our system as it stands now, with periodic federal tests to compare states, but the bulk of testing happening at the state level itself. As a teacher, I have no problem with lots of tests, so long as the tests measure things that I feel are important. When was the last time you had to bubble in answers at work to multiple choice items? But good tests are are expensive, which is why we don't use them.

Note: Comments are moderated by the editor and are subject to editing.

Comment on this item