Early childhood education (ECE) is a formal teaching of children in a setting that is outside the home environment. In most countries, early childhood refers to children who are below the age of five. Early childhood education changes with time, meaning the activities that go on in early childhood institution keep on changing. In this environs, learning is mainly focused on the power of play. Generally, there is little faith on standardized testing in early childhood education. Standardized testing refers to a test that is scored and administered in a consistent manner. As a matter of fact, anything that is predetermined eliminates the curiosity to know more.
Certainly, I believe standardized is not well in the 21st century. In the past, early childhood educations emphasized on playing as a learning tool, but today children are subjected to standardized test at an early age. The standardized testing in early childhood education is neither objective nor fair. In my opinion, it eliminates the use of power of play in enhancing learning. Perhaps, standardized testing in ECE promotes a drill-like and narrow curriculum that only focuses on the test. In fact, this excessive use of standardized testing undermines the ability of children to be critical thinkers and great innovators (Morrison, 2007).
Research shows that young children are in a situation to learn best by being subjected to an active learning system, which is within a meaningful context. It is crucial to understand that young children in early childhood education come from different cultures, learn in exceptional ways, and develop at personal rates. Hence, subjecting such children into standardized test is very unfair and unprofessional. Standardized testing in early childhood education only provides children with performance on knowledge and facts of the person who sets the test (Morgan, 2011).
Authentic assessment entails evaluating students on issues that are related to the context of the real world. Certainly, this is a good assessment strategy since students have a opportunity to learn how to put into application in various skills to projects and authentic tasks. In fact, the most critical aspect of authentic assessment is that is discourages passive test taking and rote learning. The students are streamlined to focus on their analytical skills, by integrating what is theoretically learned. These skills include the ability to collaboratively work, creativity, as well as oral and written skills (Morrison, 2007). The authentic assessment is very realistic, and values various aspects of learning. Compare to standardized testing, authentic assessment develops various skills that are used in the real world. Authentic assessment focuses on contextualized tasks, which enable students to develop and demonstrate competency. These activities bring to reality the problem solving techniques that students will apply outside school.
There are various aspects that require evaluation in early childhood education programs. Teachers and the type of standardized testing is expected to be evaluated to fit all students. ECE id expected to be a platform that provides a good playing field to young children. The evaluation of ECE programs should focus on the content that the young children achieves. The programs need to be evaluated on how realistic it will be in the future of the children (Morgan, 2011). For example, some ECE programs do not reflect on help children to face the problems that will arise in future. The results should be used to implement a good ECE programs that will help children grow fully. Perhaps, the results should be emphasized so as to foster positive outcomes for children. The programs that are good should be supported in all ways. Most of ECE programs should be evaluates so as to prove its worthiness to children.
References
Morrison, G. (2007). Early Childhood Education Today. New Jersey: Pearson
Morgan, H. (2011). Early Childhood Education.: History, Theory, and Practice. Maryland:
Rowman & Littlefield Press
