Wagner discusses how tests are administered in many schools across the country. In comparison to my own experiences of testing I have to agree with much of what Wagner says in regards to memorizing information and producing that information for a test, but later dismissing the information afterwards. Testing today lacks permanence in relation to learning. Students are often required to memorize information, but not learn concepts, principles, and information in a lasting manner. Sadly, students learn how to cram for a test and then try to transfer that same method to their college classroom where application and connection are needed skills, but students were not prepared to use in their years in K-12. Wagner writes, “Our current accountability system primarily tests how much students have memorized and can recall at a given moment in time…” This is particularly true in my experiences testing. Numerous occasions I would stay up the night before and drill information into my brain, take the test, and then never able to recall it a week later. I did the minimum to get by and it worked pretty well in terms of grades and making it through high school. In some regards this may be impressive, but it is not really learning the material.
There needs to be a shift in assessment in this country, and importantly in test-taking. Memorizing information cannot be the hallmark for getting though school and the mark of success. Testing today is not preparing students for college and a career. Education has to focus on how to do more than solve a problem on a specific test, but how to develop real-world problem-solving skills. Students know how to apply a formula for a specific math problem, but as Wagner points out they struggle in taking mathematical principles for real-world applications. I also thought it was notable in this chapter how students wished they had spent more time developing their writing skills. I think this is an area where English and Social Studies classrooms can improve writing and literacy skills. Students are going to college wishing their writing skills would have been sharpened during their K-12 years, and I believe students should have their demands met.
There needs to be a shift in assessment in this country, and importantly in test-taking. Memorizing information cannot be the hallmark for getting though school and the mark of success. Testing today is not preparing students for college and a career. Education has to focus on how to do more than solve a problem on a specific test, but how to develop real-world problem-solving skills. Students know how to apply a formula for a specific math problem, but as Wagner points out they struggle in taking mathematical principles for real-world applications. I also thought it was notable in this chapter how students wished they had spent more time developing their writing skills. I think this is an area where English and Social Studies classrooms can improve writing and literacy skills. Students are going to college wishing their writing skills would have been sharpened during their K-12 years, and I believe students should have their demands met.