…technology with a twist

We’ve got the NAP testing coming up shortly & once again I wonder at the validity of this kind of public benchmark testing. I have to question the value of such a test – everything else I do with my students allows them an opportunity to work over time, to capitalise on their strengths, and to strengthen their weaknesses.  This at least gives them and their parents an idea of the progressive development of their education and learning.

The whole process of testing, such as what we’ll grind through in the NAP, can only highlight the weaknesses in the cohort of students. My greater concern is that there never seems to be any longitudinal comparisons drawn. Perhaps the NAP will do this? If we’re testing students in Yr 3, 5, 7 and 9 then surely such longitudinal studies will be possible?

The NAP web site describes reporting of this testing as

The results from the assessment program will be used for:

1. Individual student reports to parents
2. school reporting to their communities, and
3. aggregate reporting against national standards.

Ok …why do we agree on national standards but still hold out on a national curriculum?? 

We wait to see what the fallout will be with respect to the teaching and learning process. I am willing to wager a bet that any blame for any shortcomings will fall to the Primary School teachers and to the English and Maths teachers…after all we wouldn’t expect that all subject teachers will have had an input into the students’ literacy and numeracy. Or would we??