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Beyond The Standards Movement: Defending Quality Education in an Age of Test Scores [VHS]

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Alfie Kohn raises some very interesting points about standardized testing in our school systems. He argues that our kids do not think critically because teachers "cover" material instead of take an in depth look. Alfie Kohn claims that students need to exhibit learning like in the real world. As a teacher, I think that part of my student's real world is school. Is it possible for teachers to extend the students learning into their home life as well? As I look around at our schools, I see that many schools are becoming "test preparation centers" due to standardized testing. Alfie Kohn argues against our schools becoming "test prep centers" with teachers who are worried about raising test scores. If you are interested about learning more against standardized testing, then this video is for you.

Aflie Kohn is a strong opponent of standardized tests and the pressures they are putting on schools, parents and students. He argues they are a more accurate measure of socioeconomic status than student knowledge. I agree with Kohn that too much value is placed on testing results. Now teachers tailor their instruction to teach exactly what the test assesses. Electives and enriching projects are eliminated in order to teach students meaningless facts. This video makes many valid points for eliminating standardized testing. He urges educators to take a stand. Hopefully it will make an impact on the future of student assessment.

During a period of time in the school year when students are taking standardized tests, the points made on this video seem all too true. There are definite risks to overemphasizing achievement. The students and teachers should be focused more on the learning rather than the performance. When the results of tests are so emphasized, there are risks involved. Students end up being less interested in their learning, they become preocupied with their ability, they prefer easy tasks, they become devastated when they don't perform well, and the quality of their learning declines.

Ideally, we should be able to evaluate students in a variety of ways. I agree that there is too much emphasis on test scores, but in an age of No Child Left Behind, what can we do?

Currently there is a slow food movement in response to the fast food movement. It is thought that because the same hamburger sells in Los Angles and in Moscow demonstrates it's supremely decontextualized nature. With slow food judgment, finesse, tradition and ambience all have a part to play, since the taste of food on the palate is just as importnt as a full stomach. Maurice Holt calls for a similar backlash against "fast schools."

I viewed Alfie Kohns video a day or two after reading Maurice Holts article "It's time to start the slow school movement." For me it really tied all things together, it went in depth about the effects of standarized testing on our students. Kohn discusses how "test prep" is killing a students desier to learn. WIth standarized testing we "drilling and killing" are students with usless facts and not allowing for aha moments. Alfie Kohns video calls for orderly and unimaginative school systems who excel at prodcing "standard" kids with minimal in dept knowledge turn to schools that that produce the problem solvers and innovators of the future.

Alfie Kohn touched on some very critical issues that students, parents, and educators face within the public education system. The pressures placed on us from standardized tests takes away from the excitement and fulfillment of learning and teaching. I agree with Kohn that the "list of facts" students must retain for testing tends to lead to the worst kind of instruction. There is so much information "krammed" into the students that they do not retain the information in the long run. With standardized tests, Kohn stated that students cannot explain their reasoning behind their choice of answers. This rings true for many teachers. They create assessments where students demonstrate their knowledge of the standards, however standardized tests do not always measure this. As a result, schools, such as the one I teach at are ranked as a failing schools, causing schools to compete with one another rather than support each other. Overall, the video was very inspiring especially when we realize that the strength of America is diversity, yet standardized testing does not embrace any sort of diversity/diverse learning among our students.

Kohn can be very convincing that pressure on meeting standards can be overwhelming enough that learning can become a chore. Therefore, tests that are standardized can be used as a guide rather than using standardized test to rank schools or individuals. I agree with Kohn that it is important to look at the quality of the work when it comes to evaluating performance or achievement. However, if not based on a standard system, what will measure how one is progressing? If Kohn sees using standards as a problem, what is his proposal to make learning become a positive outcome? Kohn is pushing for some kind of change, but the change is unclear.

As a teacher, I can't help but agree with many of the things Alfie Kohn discusses in this film. Yes, you have to take tests all your life. Yes, most jobs require some sort of test. There is nothing wrong with that, and there is nothing inherently wrong with tests. But, as Kohn points out, the amount of weight we give these tests is frightening. So much so that teachers are told to turn them into competition so our kids will get 'into it.' As a teacher I feel that I'm asked to teach my students that what and how they learn doesn't matter, so long as they perform, not for themselves, but their teachers, their community, their race, etc. It's a bit too much for a kid filling in bubbles.

Creating life-long learners is the goal of so many of teachers in America. But is that what is happening or have schools turned into "test-prep" centers that destroy our children's natural desire to learn? Alfie Kohn calls attention to the many affects of standardized tests on our students. Students who have a passion for and enjoy learning did not make his list. Psychological, emotional, and developmental effects are all explored in Kohn's video that urges teachers, schools, districts, and policy makers to move past the standards movement and put the students at the heart of education, not their test scores.

As a teacher I agree with a lot of the information that Alfie Kohn presented about assessment. There is a problem in our schools with coersion and competition. We are not intrinsically motivating our students to want to learn. We are teaching them to do things for a reward, a grade or praise.

However, if the teacher is aware of this, he/she can create a community of learners that encourage learning for learning sake and not only for gain. They'll create an environment of cooperation and teamwork in a low stress environment.

This video made me think about how I will give feedback to my students in order to promote effort as opposed to the grade. Also, it made me think about what to do about the student who continually underperforms based on assessments. How do I keep them motivated?