A Call to Simplify

"Standardized test are only a snap shot of students' learning," said Deborah, my cohort at university of Phoenix.

Well said, Deborah. I agree that students don't like taking tests, but I also agree that they are necessary. Teaching to the test is not teaching. The revisions in CCSS compared to the STAR tests in CA eliminate the ability to teach to the test, to some degree. Either the student knows it, or not. The state of CA will not begin testing until grade three with the new format. This will begin in spring of  2015.

Multiple choice testing isn't proof of knowledge. It is largely dependent on luck. With a 25% chance of getting the correct answer, the visual learner has a huge advantage with that sort of assessment. CCSS will require written essay responses, similar in structure (not level) to the ones that I wrote when I took the CSET before entering my credentialing program. That will be very, very challenging for many students. The ability to 'show what you know' takes practice, training, and a thorough and cemented mental data base of the material in question. That doesn't necessarily require techy tools; but they sure do help!

A colleague of mine and I were having a similar discussion recently. She said, "The ancient Greeks had sticks and stones, and look what they were able to accomplish?" As we create a world filled with gadgets, are we drifting further and further away from our greatest assets? Our minds are much more powerful than we give them credit for. Wouldn't it be great if we could figure out how to get more of it wired?

Sometimes I think that we would all benefit from a much more simple life. One where we think and listen more. One where we talk about ideas, face to face, and spring from each other's mind springs. I would love to see debate and speech come back to life on school campuses. When people connect the dots in their minds, and with each other the ownership of the learning is powerful. It is so much bigger than anyone can give them because they find it for themselves. I believe that is what Common Core is attempting to do. The execution of the idea needs to keep the intent in mind.