Education Assessment:


Looking back through my educational experiences, when it came to assessment I think it felt very cold. You are either a winner or a loser, not much in between. If you aren’t scoring as they would like, you are told that you have got to do better. It really isn’t very motivating. What really helps is if someone makes learning enjoyable. Sometimes this requires one on one time and not just for testing. My parents were smart and hired a math tutor for me in third grade when I was struggling and she made math fun! All I needed was to memorize times tables and a toy with press cubes made the challenge interesting and achievable. I remember wanting to go to the private school where she taught! Elementary public school rarely felt individually caring.


I think if assessment is all that matters, kids that don’t test well feel rejected. I think focus on assessment also promotes cheating. The focus should be on making learning enjoyable and motivating, and if teachers are going to emphasize testing; kids should be given guidance on how to study for tests. I also think it is terribly wrong when children are held back a grade in school, it is just horrible for their self esteem; surely schools could come up with something better than that!


From what I understand the assessment problem has only escalated with President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” program. It has caused many more children and good teachers to be left behind. I know a great lady that studied to be an elementary teacher. Children’s self esteem was very important in her teaching methods. However, in her 3rd year of teaching because some of her students struggled in testing, including some kids that spoke only Spanish; she was fired. I think it was a terrible loss as she no longer would be allowed to teach.


I have felt privileged to be in classrooms where teachers tend to love the subject they are teaching and know how to capture a class’s attention. I don’t think this happens very easily where there is a lot of pressure. I think that is what assessments cause; great pressure! Unfortunately, I have seen two of these great teachers fired. It just really makes me dislike some administrators and the way systems run in general. They should have at least sat in on a class before making such a cruel decision or even taken a survey from students. They just really don’t care if students are engaged in learning or not, all that matters is if they look good because of high testing scores! I think it will be really great if assessment is not the emphasis in schools!

Personally, I think I learn best when I can listen and visually watch something being done, and then have hands on experience and I can ask questions. I like it when there is no pressure and I can practice in my own space. If I am on track with feedback, or making progress toward a goal, I usually stay motivated. I also think it helped me to stay motivated in learning when teachers recognized that I was making an effort and they admired it. I think we tend to want to quit when we are told our efforts aren’t good enough. And one of the greatest tools one teacher gave me was just a desire for learning. Testing does force us to learn, but sometimes it takes so much effort we're not interested anymore when it's over. I hope something different can be implemented if it will help kids to enjoy learning more!