Are student's really learning?

"After all these years of common schooling, we still have no real way of knowing if students are learning." When I first read this statement, I really go to thinking about it. How do we know if students are learning? Yes, I mean assessments are a way of evaluating learning, but in reality, do the students really know it, or are they just memorizing key facts and ideas for the test?

Since NCLB in 2008, assessments really drive education. According to Carini, "assessment both controls and dominates what it is possible to do in schools.” I couldn't agree more. Teachers are not going to spend time on a topic they really enjoy or the students enjoy because they have to make sure they cover all the material on the test. It is sad to think that were producing almost robotic students who only are learning what they are going to be tested on and not expanding their minds. Also, administration plays a role in why teachers teach to the test. In a lot of school districts, it is important to have a high passing rate on state assessments. I know many school districts will do anything possible to improve test scores, not improve on the student's disability as to why he couldn't perform a certain task on the test. Carini again states that the only justification for having assessments is to improve test scores, and test scores are the only thing valued in schools.

I believe that we need to get out of the teach to the test mode. I agree with Luna this week when she describes teachers having the freedom to explore new ideas, ways of thinking, and collaboration. I believe that it is important as teachers today, to step away from the pen and paper assessments and have students really engage and learn the material. For example, as a special education self-contained social studies teacher, I felt immense freedom this year to really explore and create new lessons for my students to engage in, knowing I didn't have the pressure of a state assessment at the end of the year. I was able to collaborate with other social studies teachers and special education teachers to come up with creative project ideas that the students would love, rather than a test. It turns out, they really liked the project and I was able to spend time on each topic and really engage the students in the material.

I do feel that some sort of assessment is necessary to evaluate student progress. I think that these assessments need to be informal and formal. One way to do this is to have a daily "do now" question on the board so when students come into the room they are getting their brains in the material and remembering what they learned the previous day. I also think that formal assessments are needed to sum up each chapter, however, I think that this can be done through projects or group activities. I don't believe pen and paper, or essay tests are needed to be sure students are learning. I think that we should get away from standardized tests, since they discriminate against any minority group. These tests are aimed at middle class white students, and this clearly is not the case in New York State.