Instituion
Introduction
While inequalities in educational opportunity in the United States continue, and have actually grown worse in many states over the last 2 decades, recognition of the increasing importance of education to individual and societal well-being has spawned an education reforms movement focused on the development of new standards for the students (Darling-Hammond, 2010). The standards perform as guideline to teachers to focus on the different areas in their teaching, with the purpose of teaching our students more functional skills and problem solving skills. Regardless of the student's gender, ethical background, language and socioeconomic status, they should have the equal rights to receive the same public education. Teachers need follow through the standard to teach students problem solving skills and the independent living skills, so that they can utilize the skills later on in real life experiences.
Standardized test and assessments are the tools to help us assess and know our students' knowledge level. The standardized test assesses the student's knowledge level based on the standard they learned at school. Federal law requires assessment for all students and individual states receive funding from higher testing students. However, the current test and assessment system does not reflect and evaluate the standards appropriately.
According to Darling, (2010) “Unfortunately, when used in high states contexts, more narrow tests, limited to a multiple choice format, have been found to exert strong pressures to reduces the curriculum to subjects and modes of performance that are tested, and to encourage less focuses on complex reasoning and performance” (pg. 71).
Since the tests are formatted, therefore, teachers are focused to teach students to pass these narrow tests, and multiple choice formats. On the other hand, they are not able to focus on more problem solving and real life experiences.
Applying this Concept in My Work
Understanding the test score and the assessment does not reflect everything about the student's skill level. Test scores should not be everything to our education system. In my everyday work, I should use every opportunity that is possible to relate real time problem solving and independent living skills to students. Teaching students to first understand the knowledge and then work on the test score—rather than only memorize the test material and passing the test. Teachers should also improve personal knowledge and teaching skills. To improve education through the use of standards and assessments, it is critically important to invest not only in well-designed assessment, but also in teacher expertise through professional development, instructional assistance, and improved hiring and retention of the teachers (Darling-Hammond, 2010). All teachers should understand that to improve the students' skills we need to improve the teacher's teaching skills first.
Conclusion
In order to become a better educator, additional learning varies with teaching methods. More effective assessment tools are necessary for success in teaching. My feeling is that I need do more research on these studies, by using different assessments. In addition, I think there should be more research on the individualized assessments with students. It is my finding, through my personal experiences, that individualized assessment gives the educators bigger pictures on student's skill levels; and, it is better to keep a consistency across different teachers, and better for generalization purpose.
Reference
Darling-Hammond, L., (2010).The flat world and education: How America's commitment to
equity will determine our future. Columbia University, NY: Teacher's College Press.
