So after class on Wednesday I had a few thoughts about tech and my profession. After taking the GRE on a computer and after having an opportunity to experiment with the Smarter Balance lessons, I left the class worried about how I'm going to help my students succeed on tests that are computer based. Now, I'm not that old, but the majority of standardized tests that I've taken were on paper. The strategies that I know how to use on a standardized test are for a paper based test. What really stood out to me on the ELA potion of the Smarter Balance test was the fact that my normal strategies for test taking went out the window.
In preparation for standardized testing I had teachers give specific tactics on how to make a test more manageable. Simple things like crossing out answers that I knew were bogus was always a favorite tactic that my teachers helped me with. I've also been taught/trained myself to look for words I don't know and circle them, make notes in the margins, or even underline phrases that I think are important. With these computer based tests, we can no longer do that. I was appalled that the difficult words in the paragraph were defined for the reader! Part of learning comprehension involves using clues to figure out what words mean. I was really disappointed that the words were served up on a silver platter for the student. Also, because I will be an English teacher, this really concerns me. Many of the Reading Apprenticeship tactics that I will try to teach my students may not work in this situation, so I ask myself "How can I modify my lessons for this new test?"
Another issue I'm concerned about is the comprehension level of my students while they read. During my EDUC 695 class we read the Mangen et al. study titled Reading linear texts on paper versus computer screen: Effects on reading comprehension. Essentially this study found that reading comprehension is dramatically lower when the text is read from a screen. Again, as an English teacher, these computerized tests really worry me. Comprehension is a major skill of reading, so I want to make sure that this is a skill I can help my students practice with the least amount of interference as possible. So here I am now, a very confused intern. I feel that this will be one of the biggest challenges in my career, learning to compensate for the new technology that may not be the best tool for my students to use while teaching my students the essential skills that they need to become an effective learner.
Holly,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. As I was reading through it, I began to smile as I posted a blog that was very similar in both thought and concern regarding computerized testing. Some of the paper based strategies that you listed are ones that I myself employ for all (paper based) tests. Computer tests have always been a struggle for me as normal arsenal of reading strategies proved mute. So, you're not alone. We can be skeptical about this technological shift in testing together.
In addition, I just wanted to share some comments that were posted on my blog that were particularly interesting. Just some food for thought:
- Will young students who never took a paper test know any different? Will the strategies we use on paper tests be adapted to the computer?
- Computer tests increase effectiveness of grading and organization.
With regard to the preceding concept, do these advantages outweigh the negative aspects you highlighted in your post?