Education researcher Jenn Binis joins the podcast to discuss strategies for improving standardized testing, emphasizing harm reduction over removal. They explore curriculum design, instructional changes, and reducing assessment biases to shift focus towards meaningful educational pursuits. The conversation advocates for practical solutions and involving local teachers in decision-making processes for systemic change.
Moving away from all-or-nothing thinking and towards reducing harm in standardized testing issues.
Emphasizing the importance of using precise language to differentiate between various types of assessments.
Redirecting time and resources from standardized testing preparation towards more meaningful educational initiatives at district level.
Deep dives
Acceptance of Standardized Testing as a Persistent Systemic Challenge
Standardized testing remains deeply entrenched in the education system, consuming resources and influencing teaching methods negatively. Despite widespread acknowledgement of the issues it poses, solutions are often met with resignation due to the perceived complexity of the problem. A call for acceptance of the existence of standardized testing as an ongoing challenge is made, urging educators to move beyond mere acknowledgment and towards proactive responses.
Importance of Precise Language in Addressing Standardized Testing Concerns
The use of specific and precise language when discussing standardized testing is emphasized as a crucial step in identifying and addressing the actual issues at play. Differentiating between various types of assessments, such as state-mandated exams versus district-created tests, allows for a more targeted approach to tackling the problems associated with standardized testing, helping to avoid generalizations and enabling focused interventions.
Reevaluating Time and Energy Allocation for Standardized Testing Preparation
The allocation of significant time and resources towards standardized testing preparation is scrutinized, highlighting the need to redirect this energy towards more meaningful and effective educational initiatives. Proposals for learner-centered test preparation strategies, focused on metacognitive skills and test-taking techniques, aim to address the excessive emphasis on test preparation and shift towards a more holistic approach to student assessment and development.
Advocating for Shifts in Standardized Testing Practices at the District Level
At the district level, advocacy for changes in standardized testing practices includes clear communication of the purpose of state assessments and the negative consequences of overemphasizing test scores. Encouraging district leaders to challenge ranking lists based on test scores and questioning the gatekeeping role of assessments in student opportunities can lead to a more equitable and informative use of standardized testing data.
Promising Initiatives in States to Rethink Standardized Testing Approaches
Several states, such as Texas, Tennessee, and Massachusetts, are exploring innovative approaches to standardized testing to mitigate its negative impact. Strategies like dividing large tests into smaller segments throughout the year, implementing performance-based assessments, and reimagining the content and format of tests are being considered to make assessments less burdensome and more effective in informing instruction.
Standardized testing has, without a doubt, created a lot of problems in education, and far too often, our conversations about these problems end in statements like "we need to just get rid of them all" or "Oh well, nothing we can do to change things." In this episode, education researcher Jenn Binis joins me to talk about a different approach to solving the problems around standardized testing: moving away from all-or-nothing thinking and towards the idea of reducing harm. Jenn offers 5 specific strategies educators can take to make things better.
