Comments on Thoughts on Education Policy: How to Fix Testing?

I like the idea of random testing and I think that...

2008-07-07T15:37:00.000-05:00

I like the idea of random testing and I think that when it comes to all testing, the more random the better.

But early in your post you note a problem with internal validity. Your proposal won't exactly fix that, although it could if the test were designed properly.

The problem noted by Roger in the comments also presents a slightly differnt problem, that of recall versus retention, by which I mean that students can recall what was taught two weeks ago or yesterday, but can't retain what was taught six months ago, let alone last year. What this calls for is the testing regime to not only test what has been recently taught, but to go back in time to test retention of previous material.

But another matter that a random testing regime needs to account for is multiple test format, from mulitple choice to short answer to essay length prompts. There is also the need in some subjects to have students "show their work" i.e. maths and sciences.

Still, randomization will work wonders to avoid the massive test prep regimes that are to a certain extent complained about by parents and teachers.

You wouldn't happen to have an author and title fo...

2008-07-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

You wouldn't happen to have an author and title for that book, would you?

Good point. We read one book during pre-service t...

2008-07-01T12:24:00.000-05:00

Good point. We read one book during pre-service training where the author argued that the best test would be one given a year after students had learned something -- then we'd know what they *actually* learned.

I think this is an excellent idea.One problem I ha...

2008-07-01T11:55:00.000-05:00

I think this is an excellent idea.

One problem I have with testing is that right now all tests are gamed.

The teacher finishes up a unit and tells the kids x, y, and z will be on the test tomorrow. Some of the kids go home and memorize x, y, and z. Others remember some of it because, hey, kids have pretty good short term memories and they've heard, if not really understood, x, y, and z for the last two weeks. So they all get certain grades on the test which are supposed to indicate what they have "learned." But talk to them a month or two later and most of them can't tell x, y, or z from what they had for breakfast.