Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Abstract
Should standardized tests be used as a means to effectively measure the work that is being done in today's science classroom. Accountability is a major issue in the subject of standardized testing, and constitutes the importance of this study. A review of literature has indicated that standardized testing has not necessarily improved education; and that alternative assessments are a more accurate measure of a student's knowledge. However cost, distribution, speed /accuracy of correction and distribution of data are on the side of the standardized format. There is a move by some states to alter the format of standardized tests, so that they measure higher order thinking skills, rather than just the memorization of basic facts. Data was collected on a study of 527 students' biology scores based on alternative assessments and the scores attained on the science portion of the Iowa Test of Educational Development. Results of the literature review indicated a need for standardized tests by all participants, mostly due to reasons listed earlier; even though there is an underlying dislike by many students, as well as many teachers, toward using this type of assessment. Thus, the conclusion of this review of standardized tests versus alternative assessments and students' grades further indicated that if standardized tests were to be used, their their use should be in conjunction with alternate forms of assessment in order to produce the most representative data.
Year of Submission
2008
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Science Education Program
First Advisor
Jeffrey Weld
Date Original
4-2008
Object Description
1 PDF (67 pages)
Copyright
©2008 Johnpaul L. Collins
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Collins, Johnpaul L., "Standardized Testing and Alternative Assessment as a Means of Measuring the Science Student" (2008). Graduate Research Papers. 4528.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4528
Comments
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