I believe that children should be measured and assessed on their natural abilities rather than by standardized test because children learn in different ways therefore they test in different ways. Children learn by visual stimulation, audio stimulation or hands on stimulation so standardized test cannot test every child. Whole Child Assessment is the result of a lifetime of studying and working with children who had challenges, as well as special gifts. (http://leviton.org/whole-child.html)
Children learn by smelling, sensing, hearing and doing, therefore it is important to provide children with a variety of experiences as possible to help them learn. Howard Gardener was a proponent of learning by doing, and promoted the idea that different learning styles require different teaching methods. His Theory of Multiple Intelligences is based on the idea that varied stimuli will encourage brain growth, and that each child will learn according to their individual needs. (http://suite101.com/article/how-do-children-learn-a149772)
The major role of assessment has been to detect and highlight differences in student learning in order to rank students according to their achievement. Such assessment experiences have produced winners and losers. Some students succeed early and build on winning streaks to learn more as they grow; others fail early and often, falling farther and farther behind. (http://www.ascd.org)
After reading a few articles online I realized that the mission of schools have change and the focus is on putting children in various categories and meeting standards. This has started in pre-k all the way to grade 12 where every school system are following specified content standards and teaching children to take standardized test.
Our evolving mission compels us to embrace a new vision of assessment that can tap the wellspring of confidence, motivation, and learning potential that resides within every student. To enable all students to experience the productive emotional dynamics of winning, we need to move from exclusive reliance on assessments that verify learning to the use of assessments that support learning—that is, assessments for learning. http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/may07/vol64/num08/Assessment-Through-the-Student%27s-Eyes.aspx
In Canada, they use assessment just about the same way it is used in America with the exception of not all school boards provide a formal assessment, but it is useful to know what to expect from the child. Generally, secondary school students who have recently arrived from other countries may have an initial assessment before they can enter a school. Usually, elementary school students are placed in a grade according to age. The purpose of the initial assessment is to find out about students’ educational background and English skills so they can be placed in the right grade. (http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4001195)
There are three nationally standardized tests that are wholly Canadian-owned and operated educational assessment service and publisher. The three tests are Canadian Achievement test CAT; Canadian Test of Cognitive Skills (CTCS); and Canadian Achievement Survey Test for Adults; these tests are used by school and colleges across Canada. The CAT (for grade placement between end of Grade 1 through to Grade 12) indicates how the child is doing in comparison with others at the same grade level across Canada and provides a profile of strengths and needs in reading, language, spelling, mathematics and writing. The CTCS (for grade placement from mid-Grade 2 through to Grade 12) compares the learning abilities or cognitive skills of the child with others at the same age and grade across Canada and assesses learning skills in sequences, analogies, memory and verbal reasoning. http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/testing.html
A hundred years later, this thinking has taken firm hold in the educational establishment both in Canada and internationally. The standardized testing movement now consumes millions of dollars and hundreds of hours that could be better spent on basic educational resources — like text-books, teachers and adequate support services. All these things are still necessary, it seems, as no one has yet shown that testing, by itself, can improve learning. (http://www.maritamoll.ca/webmom/news.html)
My mother was born with a hearing and speech impairment and never had the opportunity to get the education she deserved I can say that assessments are critical to be able it diagnose children so that they will get the appropriate care and education. My mother is a well-rounded person with excellent common sense and very talented in certain areas. She learned how to do domesticated things like cooking, washing, sewing, cleaning etc. She never learned how to read and write because in her country they did not believe that a child with disability was capable of learning those cognitive skills. My mother can now write only her name and she recognized her name and most of her children’s name because I taught her those basic skills as an adult which let me know that if she was given the opportunity as a child she would be a more productive person instead they label her as “Retarded”.
I also have a son who for many years I was in denial that he had ADD – attention deficit disorder and just felt he was not applying himself. I soon realize I was wrong as he entered sixth grade when his homeroom teacher said to me my son was the same way and she did not realize it until he entered college. I then had my son evaluated by a few child development specialists who diagnosed him with ADD and he was placed on medication that made a tremendous difference to his attitude and grades until he made a decision that he did not want to be on the medication anymore because he felt it inhibited his social skills in high school. He is now in college and doing great because
he has learned how to study and I believe that what he learned from elementary through high school he is now applying.
I don’t believe that all children should be tested on their abilities using standardized test because there are so many children that get text anxiety and fail the test. I know from experience with my own children how they respond to standardized test, I have three boys and only one do well with test and the other two freak out when it comes to testing. My middle son had the worst time with testing because of his ADD and did not do so well but did great in school with visual work and he is very artistic. I believe that we will eventually evolve and standardized test will be eliminated and allow teachers to teach children the way they should be taught.
References:
http://suite101.com/article/how-do-children-learn-a149772
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/may07/vol64/num08/Assessment-Through-the-Student%27s-Eyes.aspx
http://leviton.org/whole-child.html
http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4001195)
http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/testing.html
(http://www.maritamoll.ca/webmom/news.html)
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