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Standardized Test Overview. TCH 345 Assessment & Evaluation Strategies Han Liu, Ph.D. Department of Teacher Education Shippensburg University. What it is Standardized Test?. Large number of students across the nation, a region, a state, or a district, take the test:
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Standardized Test Overview TCH 345 Assessment & Evaluation Strategies Han Liu, Ph.D. Department of Teacher Education Shippensburg University
What it is Standardized Test? • Large number of students across the nation, a region, a state, or a district, take the test: • Using same/similar sets of exercises • Administering the test under approximately the same conditions • Applying uniform scoring procedures • Following uniform formula to interpret test results
Uses of Standardized Tests • Compare results across large student population for important decisions • Test students’ achievement or their aptitude or intelligence • Decide K-12 students promotion & graduation • Decide college admission • Predict student future success • Decide scholarship recipients • Evaluate teacher performance • Evaluate instruction/school management intervention • Funnel resources to where needed
Users of Standardized Tests • Typically, standardized tests meet the once-a-year information needs of: • School leaders • Policy makers • Instructional program designers • Teacher, Student, Parent • The society
Major Steps in Developing Standardized Test • Clarifying achievement targets – Goals and standards based on grade level and subject areas (knowledge, reasoning, performance, products, and dispositions in relation to specific contents) • Translating those targets into assessments –Matching targets with methods, creating test specification blue print • Developing test items – Create a test bank of valid testing items in various formats • Assembling and evaluating the test for soundness – verify validity and reliability and modify test items through pilot study • Administering the test - - Define conditions for the test, such as how long the test takes, what are the grading guidelines, and how to report test results – norm-referenced or criterion-referenced
Standardized Test Developers • Professional Test Developers • ETS(Educational Testing Service) • SAT • GRE • PRAXIS • Professional Testing • Pearson • Test Publisher • State Department of Educaton • Through contracts • PSSA
PA Teachers Care about Most… • PRAXIS • SAS (Standards Aligned System) • PSSA • PSSA Anchors and Scoring Samplers
Sample standardized Tests • IQ • PRAXIS • SAT • ACT • TOEFL • GRE • PSSA (Pennsylvania School System Assessment) • CAT (California Achievement Test)
Layers of Standardized Tests • College Admissions Testing – 1930s • SAT, ACT • District Wide Testing –1940s • Statewide Testing – Since 1960s • PSSA • National Assessment – 1970s • National Assessment of Educational Progress (NEAP) • International Assessment • The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) • National Every-Pupil Testing – 2001 • No Child Left Behind Act • PSSA • AYP (Adequate yearly Progress)
NCLB Law and Assessment • In 2001 national every-pupil testing was enacted through the No Child Left Behind Act. • NCLB requires each state to design or select an assessment yielding results that can be used to classify students into performance. (PA: PSSA) • The law requires every state to administer annually a standardized achievement test to every student in grades 3-8 (recently this law has been extended through high school).
NCLB Law and Assessment • Results are reported by school district and by ethnic group to the public and used by states to demonstrate whether students are making adequate yearly progress (AYP). • State school systems will be held accountable for making AYP. So it is called High stake test. • Those schools labeled as "failing" receive both special attention and possible sanctions if their failing rates continue.
Issues in Standardized Testing • Can standardized college admission test predict student future success? • Does international assessment accurately measure student real academic performance? • Does standardized test provide fair measurements for all learners? • Standardized tests • Encourage rote learning • Lead to “teach to the test” classroom practice • Lead to cheating • Lead to grade inflation • Impair student’s creativity