Education Week Survey Notes

What is a standardized test?
Generalizable across many different classrooms
Should have the SAME:
Administration
Scoring
Interpretation
 
Do teachers use standardized tests?
Results of an Arkansas study of Elem. Teachers
77.5% - Yes
 
How are norm-referenced useful?
Diagnostics - 27.5%
Comparisons - 20.2%
NOT USEFUL - 13.8%
Drawbacks?
Invalid measure - 22%
Too much on one test - 11.5%
How are criterion-referenced useful?
Diagnostics - 36.7%
NOT USEFUL - 15.1%
Drawbacks
Invalid measure - 6%
Too much on one test - 6%
No response to question - 60.6%
What standard scores do you use?
Z-scores - 12.4%
T-scores - 11.0%
Stanine - 54.1%
Percentile - 82.6%
Grade-equivalent - 79.8%
Standard deviation - 51.4%
 
Why do we use standardized tests?
To show progress
To compare schools
We have too!!
 
What is the difference between commercial and state mandated tests?
Norm vs. Criterion
Comparison of a pupil to a larger general group
Vs.
Minimum performance, competency tests
Rate schools, teachers, and students
What is the difference between norm referenced and criterion referenced testing?
Norm - compare to another group
Criterion - pre-set standards
 
Which is better?
Depends on the purpose
 
Why is a teacher's role in administration so important?
Must have a standard administration
Teacher's attitude will affect the students
 
Terms
 
Norms
Comparison group (fixed)
Local - for individual school
 
Raw score
Number of items correct
 
Percentile rank
Percent of the NORM group that this student scored higher than
75 percentile - this student scored higher than 75% of the student in the NORM group
NOT than took the test
 
Stanines
Standard score divided into 9 areas
4,5&6 are average
 
Grade Equivalent score
Based on grade and months in school??
Compares only to norm group
7th grader scoring 11.2 cannot necessarily do 11th grade work
Most misinterpreted score
 
Percentile bands
Accounts for error due to uncontrollable events
Reliability
95% sure the real score is in the band
 
Interpreting the scores
Main problem is over interpretation
Use to show strengths and weaknesses
 
Should teachers teach to the test?
No but --
Greater the stakes- more likely
Does teaching to the test take away from real teaching/learning?
Yes
Best preparation is good teaching/learning with a good curriculum