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E-mail Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > July > 12 > Entry
Obama and the idea of “new tests”
Yesterday, I got a lucky break. I managed to tag along with our political reporters to cover a speech by Barack Obama at Dayton’s Stivers School for the Arts and, prompted by a question from the crowd, Obama repeated a chunk of his position on education.
He didn’t say anything he had not said before, but he did repeat something he’s been saying that peaked my interest. Here is the comment in question:
“We need to change how measures of progress works. A standardized test given at the beginning of year would give teachers a tool to know where kids are starting. If they want, they can have another test at the end of year to see how they end up. In the middle, let teachers do what they do best, which is teach. We need to work with teachers to develop other assessment tools to be sure we are making progress.”
Several times now, I’ve heard Obama call for “new tests” or “new testing technology” designed for 21st century learning. So here is the question I’d like Obama to answer — exactly what do you mean by “new tests” and what is your vision of how these futuristic tests would look like?
Here’s where I suspect these statements by Obama might be coming from.
When you talk to standardized test makers, many will acknowledge that standardized tests are based on old technology that could be improved. And some of the researchers at the big test making companies are excited about the idea that new test technology in the future could better serve students and teachers. But there is a problem. Those advances are pretty far off from being implemented on a wide scale.
But on a small scale, you are seeing some of the techniques employed. An example is computer software programs that adjust to the students. For instance, some district use computer-based assessment programs that offer questions up to kids and as they answer, the computer offers up easier questions when they get wrong answers and harder questions when they get right answers. That technology could have useful application for state exams.
But those sorts of programs require something that is not readily available to every student in every classroom — a computer. If Obama has ideas for new testing technologies, won’t those new tests require a computer? And if they do, does Obama have a plan for scaling up technology across the nation so those new tests can be widely administered?
That’s the question I’d like to ask.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Tracking Barack Obama
Comments
By Mary
July 13, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
This comment pertains to the previous topic as well as the current one. This morning, Meet the Press with Tom Brokaw, Carly Fiorina (representing McCain) and Senator McCaskill (respresenting Obama) discussed some education issues along with other topics. Some interesting points and questions were made about No Child Left Behind, choice, and the power of the teachers’ unions as a veto power over the democratic party positions on education. I agree with Carly Fiorina’s insights more so than Obama’s in these recent posts. I do agree with him on some of his points. Brokaw made the comments about the teachers’ unions and the democratic party. Carly Fiorina made a point about choice for parents. Apparently, Obama wants parents to be blamed and held responsible, but not allowed choices.
By Calvin
July 13, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
You won’t hear this picked apart by media or reporters. If Obama says it it is just that nebulous “change” he wants everyone to accept with any specifics to show that he really has any knowledge after a year in the Senate. It’s still amazing how he can say something and it’s wonderful even though there are no working specifics given. The politico who gave the Every Child Left Behind comment needs to recall that Democrat Teddy Kennedy was the big push behind that example of “change” on the part of the dems. Come on folks, let’s have the reporters ask penetrating questions!!! Let’s hear exactly how this will be done. Maybe people will realize they’re buying the spiff without the substance. Energy plan; same thing. It ain’t there.
By Mary
July 13, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
I thought he might mean the “value added” assessments which people have been pushing for some time. A man (Gardner?)from Tennessee came up with the value-added methods. A lot of groups, including those who are interested in gifted students, have thought for some time we need to measure progress, not just pass or fail for an age group,like most of the state standard tests are. Many top or gifted students do not really learn anything new from year to year. Some students come into the classroom not knowing what they should know and the teacher is expected to compensate and have these students perform to grade level anyway. I thought Ohio and other states were trying to come up with a value added approach.