Customer Reviews

Put to the Test: An Educator's Guide

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Gerald Bracey's new book is a perfect explanation of the ins and outs of our standardized testing craze. He explains in a witty and at times slightly ironic style the problems of using standardized tests to measure student learning. He gives a good overview of what's involved in developing tests and he is quick to point out that the tests don't and can't do what they purport. His review of the SAT is fascinating. Although he summarizes information which has been explained elsewhere he is concise and to the point.The SAT can only predict, at best, what a college applicant will do his first year, And actually the student's own high school record, especially his grades, is a better predicter. He also exposes the lie that the decline of SAT scores is an indication of a decline in American education. The change in scores is really only a reflection in the change of students taking the test. Orginally a small elite of white males took the test. Today a more diversified range of students takes the test and this accounts for the change in scores. And it also interesting that Bracey points out that the math scores never declined. Another important part of the book is his discussion of intelligence and how our understanding of the nature of intelligence has changed from the idea that intelligence is a single entity to the more complex concept, based on the theories of Howard Garner,that intelligence is not one but seven separate intelligences. But the great strength of this book is Bracey's skill in taking the arcane science of psychometrics, which in the past has been influenced by racist and elitest ideas and which today is often manipulated by political and economic concerns, and making it understandable. When Bracey discusses norm and criterion- referenced tests; stanines, percentages and scales; domains and detracters; IQs; aptitude,ability, and achievement he can make it all seem so simple. He makes it so easy one's tempted to ask, why didn't I get it before. It seems that the world has gone test crazy. This book will explain why most of the testing isn't necessary and doesn't work. And he also explains what we should be trying to do.