Reflections on Standardized Assessment Activities

(1). At what point did you feel most engaged with what you were seeing/doing?

• The Quotation/Post-it activity: “I wish we had more time for it.”/“I enjoyed reading and responding as well as responding to others comments.”/“Beneficial to see others opinions and ideas.”/”I love applying new knowledge.”/”I felt as if we were provided an open forum to voice our opinions in some instances on subjects where some may have chosen to stay silent.”/”Finding my point of view as a teacher is important, so to be challenged in this way was helpful.”
• Discussion of video and reading material “really help me to focus and really gain more from the discussion and class. Plus I really love hearing from other people and gaining new perspectives of their characters, especially when I feel like I can learn from them (e.g. I love Asmaa and can only dream to be as educated and graceful as she is).”/”I enjoyed hearing everyone’s opinions.”/ 
• IQ tests
• History of assessment
• Charlotte Danielson video: “Does the public actually have a right to demand/expect high quality teachers be in their public schools? Danielson made this claim, but I’m not sure they have this right based on how teachers are treated. And/or if the public has this right they are not demanding it and/or they do not recognize the job of a teacher. I’m not sure that the job we are being asked to do is possible.”

(2). What did you find most puzzling or confusing?

• Standardized testing in different states across the country varies. How is that standardized?”
• “The fact that ‘IQ’ tests were real bogus forms of basically shutting down a child’s potential.”
• “Labeling people at a very young age and deciding on their future at an early age.” 
• “I wasn’t really puzzled/confused at all.” 
• “Nothing in class was really new information, it is just very maddening. It is puzzling to me that I get so passionate about this stuff and I have not quit for another job/profession.”
• “I’m not so much confused as I am frustrated about teacher evaluation. I think Charlotte Danielson explained it beautifully. What counts as evidence? How attribute to teachers?”
• “Different testing in states regarding IQ test.”
• “The portfolio part. I do not know how I can use it in a math class. It seems to me that it is more appropriate for English class.”
• “Discussing the standardized test-different types in general! My mind is (was) stuck in music world!”
• “The different types of assessment. I just need to pull out my book and view them/think about them more carefully.”
• “How to balance the benefits and issues of standardized testing. Which of the 1,001 methods of assessment should I utilize?”
• “How do I know if I’m making a difference or if I’m inheriting success/learning issues?
• “Talking about testing, the question that is ringing in my ears is “how did we get so deep in all of these standardized tests? What really is the point? Why did we ever really start?”

(3). What is surprising to you? (This could be something about your own reactions to the activities/videos, something that someone did or anything else that occurs to you.)

• “The lack of autonomy “back then” compared to today looks much different but honestly the way we present it has just changed.”
• “That labeling is still being used widely in the school system and in the context of assessment. Also, the cost of processing testing procedures and their results.”
• “The fact that this still goes on today. I can see so many examples of what was said in present day in my high school.”
• “Ethnicity IQ test result and labeling students according to their race”
• “As an educator, I am embarrassed to say that I really didn’t realize the history of our educational system. The video was eye-opening and something I may actually use in my classroom or at a PLC with other teachers in my school.”
• “The type of questions asked on IQ tests. Unbelievable.”
• “When you said that teachers had to sign a paper that they did not reach their teaching potential.”
• “I have always thought about standardized testing discriminating against students with learning struggles and disabilities but I’d never taken the time to think about how they are discriminatory against races and cultural differences.”
• “It is surprising to me how IQ testing was such an important factor of education in the past.
• “The standards and politics of standardized testing and assessments in general is much more complete than I had previously imagined. There is no real guidance or directions...we are left to decide which approach to take. Scary.”
• “Learning about how testing began was surprising. That they started as a way to find potential.”
• “I still can’t get over the quote about the public having a right to demand quality teachers. The public treats teachers like crap and expects things that we do not demand of other professionals.”

(3a). What is MOST surprising to you?

• “The willingness with some people to go along with this system.”
• “ That this country can’t use another method of testing due to costs of the process and all the detrimental budget cuts being made in education.”
• “How upset I feel that I didn’t do anything about it during the time or even really consider it.”
• "The fact that the ACT has been in use for so long; considering the education field is in a constant move.” 
• “Approximately 70% of teachers are white females. Not sure why this is so surprising…”
• “A lot of us agreed on the quotes activity.”
• “How upset I feel over topics I have already talked/learned about.”
• “I guess the videos (first one in particular). I really enjoyed it!”
• “How the video discussed how important the IQ tests were and the discrimination against the Mexicans in L.A.--specifically pushing them towards vocational school.”
• “It is surprising to me that we have come so far with prejudices as far as lowering them, but we still have a long way to go.”
• “Being an OUTSTANDING teacher is not as easy, obvious, and clear cut. Standardized testing has many pitfalls but also huge benefits.”
• “The people who were placed somewhere because of race/IQ and yet came so far as to be a US Ambassador to Mexico or a rocket scientist.”
• “I don’t think its a safe assumption to say that the teacher has the power in a situation. I was surprised to hear this. I feel pretty powerless as a teacher.”