tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post9077637587294194470..comments2023-06-18T10:20:27.090-04:00Comments on Laurie Goodman's Blog: Christie proposes education reform bills that would eliminate current tenure system for teachers.Laurie Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15333070518293834658noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-40228893091559621972011-04-24T20:02:27.373-04:002011-04-24T20:02:27.373-04:00The article in NJ Spotlight is very interesting, b...The article in NJ Spotlight is very interesting, but I think those tests may even be more flawed than what we have know.<br /><br />"The PARCC model ..... a series of "through-course" assessments over the span of the year, given every two months to be closer to when the students learn the material. The results of those assessments would go into a single score at the end of the year."<br /><br />So basically every 6th grade class is going to be expected to go at the same rate so that every two months the students can be tested on that material. So if a teacher inherits a class that is way behind and sees fit to do a lot of remedial work with them, and a lighter amount of current work, till they are capable, that teacher will look bad the whole year, by always being behind. <br /><br />I like the concept of computer and other technology being used, but I fear it is not reliable enough. If you have ever seen teachers bring one of those portable lab carts into classroom and students sometimes have trouble logging in all at once, I find it difficult to imagine that there won't be massive number of technological incidents reported throughout the state.<br /><br />I am not 3:22 pm, but to follow up, we need to be much more artful about what we ask in a multiple choice question. Teachers give tests all the time, they are teaching to the test they intend to give (I hope)....or else the students will say ....that isn't what we learned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-58169767019528198892011-04-20T00:33:58.255-04:002011-04-20T00:33:58.255-04:00But @3:22, there's the problem -- You say &quo...But @3:22, there's the problem -- You say "if the tests are to measure what was taught in the classroom..." But the tests don't measure that! Not consistently, and only in a very narrow way. There are all kinds of things we want our students to learn which cannot be measured by filling in multiple choice bubbles. I worry that if multiple choice bubbles are the only measure, and if a teacher's salary or employment depends only on those bubbles, then that's all she's going to care about. <br /><br />Speaking of tests...an interesting article on NJ Spotlight today about new tests being developed by states: http://me.lt/1c8zy<br /><br />And re: Math in the Times -- do you mean the opinion piece on Jump Math? I read it this AM. Interesting.Laurienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-66991559539729241442011-04-19T20:52:49.200-04:002011-04-19T20:52:49.200-04:00Any idea that compensation should be based upon te...Any idea that compensation should be based upon test scores is premature. Part of an evaluation, yes. <br />Much practical work needs to be done to come up with systematic adjustments to test scores for children not there the full-year, excessive absences, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-9948926923137405152011-04-19T16:18:27.368-04:002011-04-19T16:18:27.368-04:00Teaching to the test is not the problem - the prob...Teaching to the test is not the problem - the problem is the tests don't check if the students know what we want them to know.<br />The tests need to be much broader, longer, and better designed.<br />The open-ended math is nonsense - math teachers quarrel about whether an answer to a sample question is worth 1 2 or 3 points, let alone some paid hack who must process hundreds of these.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-7294076147007723792011-04-19T15:22:20.788-04:002011-04-19T15:22:20.788-04:00If the tests are to measure what was taught in the...If the tests are to measure what was taught in the classroom, then teaching to the test will occur automatically. Come on Laurie, give up this adversity to testing.<br /><br />And while your at it go read the article on Math in today's NY Times Online. You should find it interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-5748628308351018612011-04-18T20:43:07.942-04:002011-04-18T20:43:07.942-04:00Any thoughts about the problems with the value-add...Any thoughts about the problems with the value-added model, as described by statisticians? For example, how do the scores allow for different class make-up from year to year? One year a teacher may have a few students that take more of her attention or who disrupt the class...student assignments to classes are not random...the class make-up would become even more "loaded," since student assignment could influence teacher's scores.<br /><br />How would we protect against narrowing the curriculum as teachers strive to "make" their scores and teach to the test?<br /><br />How would we accommodate the statistical margin of error, which is large in value-added assessments?<br /><br />These are just a few of the concerns I've read (and I share). Any thoughts?Laurienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-64065430759171277842011-04-18T12:42:57.876-04:002011-04-18T12:42:57.876-04:00This is really the intent of value-added standardi...This is really the intent of value-added standardized testing - to do the job of peer reviews without the personalities.<br /><br />A far as other disciplines are concerned, I only know of my experiences in finance and IT. We were never peer-reviewed. We were evaluated by management. The only peer reviews were part of 360 degree feedback that upper management went through - and then the witch hunt began to find out who said something negative.<br /><br />Beware peer reviews for teachers, it will mean they won't talk or share with each other. Go with value-added standardized testing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768945813587888212.post-91071163957592117752011-04-18T08:52:11.553-04:002011-04-18T08:52:11.553-04:00Teacher peer review should be a component. If a te...Teacher peer review should be a component. If a teacher is not preparing his/her students it will become glaringly obvious to the next grade level teacher. Peer review takes place all the time in other disciplines and is a good way to weed out the dead wood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com