EDUCATION

Standardized testing

– obsolete?

Standardised TestConstructed by specialist and experts

Based on standardised norms and principles

Administered and scored in a consistent, predetermined manner

Standardised TestIn Singapore:

PSLE – Primary 6

‘O’ Levels – Secondary 4

‘A’ Levels – JC 2

Pros

PracticalityLess time for preparation of test

Easy administration

Smooth grading

Empirical documentation

ObjectivityNon-standardised test based on individual

teacher’s opinion of student’s performance

May lead to biasness

Instigator of ChangePattern emerges after a school / region

conducts many of such tests

Problems identified quickly

Change can brought about

AccountabilityBenchmark is set

Students can work towards goals of common standards

Leads to achievement gains

Test is taken seriously

StandardizationStudents are exposed to the same basic

material

Regardless of demographics of schools

Improve social mobility

Cons

Only when standardized

tests and testing are overused,

misused and over-emphasied

DishonestyHigh-stake tests

Stress: for students, teachers and schools

Results have to be improved by hook or by crook

Dishonesty

Teaching to the TestStudents who are well-versed with examination-

formatted questions do better

Teachers spend more time to prepare students on examination structure

Topics may be overlooked due to time constraint

"Standardized tests can't measure initiative, creativity, imagination, conceptual thinking, curiosity, effort, irony, judgment, commitment, nuance, good will, ethical reflection, or a host of other valuable dispositions and attributes. What they can measure and count are isolated skills, specific facts and function, content knowledge, the least interesting and least significant aspects of learning."

— Bill Ayers

BiasnessAgainst certain students

Standardised tests do not take into account diversity

Impact on StudentsDoing poorly results in:

Depression

Teacher’s morale lowered – negative attitude towards student

Punishment instead of encouragement

Unhealthy competition levels

ElitismElite schools tend to do better

Students attributed with having families of higher social status and wealth

Standardised test is a tool to show off

S’pore’s education

– breed elitism?

Elitism people with intellect,

wealth, specialized training, or other distinctive attributes

to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight; whose views and/or actions are most likely to be constructive to society

Mindset

Attitude

YESWhy?

Why?GEP

DSA EESIS IP SMP MPP

Examples?Wee Shu Min

“get out of my elite uncaring face”

A 12-year-old girl

Examples?

“It is not enough to succeed, others must fail”

Gore Vidal

Rise of IP schools Give rise to elitism?

Assumption Utopian

Criticism

Bilingualism in multicultural society

–problem unique to S’pore?

Canada Migrants

Officially Bilingualism

Asymmetrical application of edu rights in Canada

-Quebec’s English-education

Problems

-English speakers’ children forced to speak French

India Almost no immigrants

Hindi-official union language

English-official work language

22 recognized regional language

National language: not defined

IndiaTaught 3 languages from 1st grade

Problems:

-Communication obstacle

-A country that divided into north (Hindi) and south (Dravidian)

-why China is progressing more rapidly than India

Bilingual educationAnother way of thinking

Overseas study chances

Business opportunities

Positive effects on economy