Creation of an Evaluative Rubric

Here's the link to my Google doc for my evaluative rubric

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Id6ElITIX5JUJA5YC4bhen-YJCha0sFM3JOvK_QtI8/edit?usp=sharing

Module 1 Reflective Essay

I have taken many standard tests over the years. When in elementary and middle school I took the required tests annually for math, reading, and English. I do not recall what they were called and I am sure the name of it has changed since then. They were the basic standardized tests you took when you were in those grades though. The next test I took was my high school entrance exam. I went to private high school and one of their requirements was to take that standardized test. This test determined along with your grades what classes you would be placed in. For example college prep, honors, or if you needed additional study you would be placed in lower courses. My high school also gave the option of taking science and math tests to determine if you could be placed higher, I did not take these tests. With my standardized test results I was placed in Honors English, History, and Algebra. I will be honest and say that I do not entirely agree with my testing results. I did not belong in Honors English at all. I struggled a lot with the course my freshman year and when it came time to sign up for my sophomore courses I opted to go with the college prep course. I stuck it out with history and dropped down my math course as well. It was not that I could not follow the math but I think that I took on too heavy a course load so I fell too far behind in math. More recently I have taken the SATS, PCAT, PRAXIS, and GRE. I was able to take both the old and the new SATS. I did better on the old one than the new one but not significantly. Again I do struggle with writing so when they implemented that section I was all but thrilled. I had a dream to be a pharmacist, before I worked as pharmacy technician for the past 6 years. I took the PCAT once. It is a long and enduring test. It is by far the hardest standardized test I have ever taken. I would compare the PRAXIS I and GRE side by side. They are both very similar. Both of them you get to take on a computer which I like a lot better than being crammed in a room with students at tiny desks trying to complete a 25 page booklet. Also rather than having the anxiety of waiting as you have to do with written tests the computer tests give you your scores as soon as you are done. The only part you have to wait for scoring is the written section. From all of these tests I have learned that I have a very hard time writing things on the spot or trying to formulate ideas quickly. I never score well on the writing sections and I know that it is because my ideas are scattered and not fully explained.

The common core was not put in place when I took any of these tests. I do think it might have made the tests a little more difficult had I been taught that way. I do not have a lot of experience with the common core but I feel like it can sometimes make math problems harder than what they are. It makes you think about it differently and that can take up more time. Standardized tests are timed and that can be an added stressor, spending too much time on one problem.

I think the motivation behind standardized testing is to put all students on an even playing field so they can be measured. If every student takes the same test it allows administrators to readily determine which sections the class may need to work harder in or which they are excelling, which can then help to improve curriculum. Standardized tests are also used to determine if a person is qualified to pursue a career in a specialized field. If they do not score particularly well they run the risk of not being admitted into graduate schools or perhaps not getting a promotion at work. If everyone is on an even playing field of scoring then nobody can claim that favoritism came into play with grades. It makes everything concrete and fair. Then there is the factor of people that do not test well, but that is another ball game. 

References:

Popham, W. (2008). Why do Teachers Need to Know About Assessment? In Classroom Assessment: What Teachers Need to Know (7th ed., pp. 1-19). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Meador, D. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing. Retrieved from http://teaching.about.com/od/assess/a/Standardized-Testing.htm

U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan Announces Winners of Competition to Improve Student Assessments. (2010, September 1). Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-secretary-education-duncan-announces-winners-competition-improve-student-asse

New to this

I figured I would try this out before doing our first blog for assignment. I am very excited to be starting our third course! It is hard to believe that we are in the third one already, it is going so fast. This weekend I have been going over our readings for the first module but mostly have taken it easy. Friday after work I went to urgent care and found out I have an ear infection :(  I thought only little kids got these! My weekend wasn't a total waste though. My mom and I went to see I Love Lucy Live on Stage at the Hippodrome today. It was awesome! The actor that played Ricky Ricardo or Desi Arnaz was my favorite. His accent was so perfect, it was unreal. I grew up watching I Love Lucy on Nick at Nite. Well I am going to do more of the readings now, good luck everyone on course number 3!!