"So why the scorn for testing children? How else will we know if they’re learning?
That a test–at least the standardized tests we give in schools today–represents only a narrow snapshot of a child’s abilities isn’t a new proposition. That they promote reductive views of intelligence, mislead families and communities, and are often punitive for teachers and students alike also isn’t new, which is where this image by @sylviaduckworth comes in.
The graphic is based on the idea of personality qualities, rather than the content knowledge and academic skills measured by most standardized testing today., that are beyond the reach of testing today. There are many potential takeaways here, so let’s document a few in the form of a question:
What do we test today and why?
Why should we be testing and why?
Are tests the best way to measure learning?"
Via
John Evans
I am aware I am sharing this without doing the deep reading and reflection that the article calls for (I will go back and read again later when I have uninterrupted time) but I wanted to save and share it now.
Kris gives some examples of the insidious nature of misinformation, of the need for better "crap detection", and some thoughtful guidelines for how to combat the false information being spread. What jumped out at me was his recommendation to thoughtfully curate resources that provide accurate information and keep them visible in the social media stream. This is something librarians should excel at, right? I feel that responsibility more than ever!
And speaking of curation, thanks to School Library Connection for reposting this article from Joyce Valenza. If you don't curate, Joyce thoughtfully outlines why you should!