Leaving Testing Behind Summary

Article 1: “Leaving Tests Behind” by Haley Sweetland Edwards

This article discussed the never-ending debate on the emphasis on standardized testing in the United States. It also addressed the idea that some states are eliminating several of the required standardized tests in public schools. Instead the states expected teachers to assess students’ progress through “alternative assessments” including performance-based projects. The principal from Abingdon Elementary School expressed that these “alternative assessments” allowed for teachers to see “more authentic” way to view their students’ growth (Edwards, 28). According to the article, “the trend in federal, state, and local education-policy circle has been to require more and more standardized exams as a way to establish common benchmarks of achievement and to hold schools accountable for their students’ progress (Edwards, 28).” However, many states have removed the mandatory exams and/or consequences due to low test scores, reducing the emphasis on standardized testing and diminishing the stress on students in those states. According to the article, the issue of the effectiveness of standardized testing is still being heavily debated.

I also believe that there is too much emphasis on teaching to the test instead of an emphasis on the usefulness of material in real life. In my opinion, the death of standardized testing will allow for teachers to teach material in a less stressful time-frame and allow for teachers to assess their students in a more relaxed, informal way.

Article 2: “What’s Out in 2017: 5 Ed Tech Trends on the Way Out in 2017” by Dian