3.14.16

Teachers have long been criticized for "teaching to the test."  I'd like to say that this isn't true, but in a society concerned with being the best, statistics, and status quo's, it has become more and more of a norm to teach to the test.  Though with backwards design we learned that the assessment should be created first and then the learning planned around that assessment, teaching to the test is different.  Teaching to the test is teaching specific information so that students can bubble in the correct answer and backwards design ensures that students are equipped with the information to create, perform a task or assignment.

This week, I found an article Phys.org.  The article it titled "Teaching, Not Testing Makes Better Students."  This article stressed that teaching should not be defined as a series of practices that lead to perfect standardized test scores. Teachers need to realize that we are lifelong learners and that we should inspire students to think critically about the world in which they live.  I really liked that the article suggests "focusing learning on critical thinking, curiosity, sharing ideas, and igniting emotions."  This type of teaching and learning is based on demonstrating understanding rather than memorizing and bubbling or reciting.

The article asks:

"What kind of adults will we produce if we're churning out children like they are cogs in a machine?"

This is a question that I think we really need to think critically about and use to shape our practices as teachers.  We have to remember our students are not robots who we can program to spout out answers.  These are human children who must learn to think for themselves and share their opinions in a safe environment.  Our future students are going to need a "learning environment where [they] can have more opportunities for reflection, inquiry, and self-directed learning that inspires creativity."

When thinking about and preparing for 21st Century learners, teaching to the test is not going to cut it.  Authentic assessment is a must in order to push these students toward success.

I related this article to NCTCS 2c "Teachers treat students as individuals" because students are not robots and we must take into account their individuality.  I also related this to NCTCS 4e "Teachers help students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills" because we are tasked with pushing students toward critical thinking rather than teaching them exactly what will be on the test.

http://phys.org/news/2016-03-students.html