Our customer support team is here to answer your questions. Ask us anything!
👋 WhatsApp Us Now
Brookhart and Nitko (2019) suggest that increased teaching, teacher effort, and working more effectively constitute “positive test preparation” because these actions result in increased student learning (p. 779). The authors, however, dissuade the use of high-stakes test preparation strategies such as coaching and the reallocation of instructional time and resources because they narrow the scope of what is taught in classrooms to cover only sample test items.
In today’s high-stakes testing environment, consider how you, as a K–12 administrator, would respond to Brookhart and Nitko’s assertions.
Write a word response to the following:
Describe how Brookhart and Nitko’s assertion might apply to your school or school district.
Share specific examples of how you might work with faculty to provide a learning environment that is not high stakes test centered. Include at least 3 steps that must be taken to ensure that this conversation with your faculty might result in improved teaching and learning at the classroom level. citation intext format is APA, +600 words.
As a K–12 administrator, I am in agreement with Brookhart and Nitko’s assertations that increased teaching, teacher effort and working more effectively constitute “positive test preparation” as this results in increased student learning. In today’s high-stakes testing environment, it is important to ensure that the focus of teaching remains on learning rather than only high-stakes tests. To promote this type of environment within my school or district, I would work with faculty to provide a learning atmosphere that is not centered around merely test scores.
The first step I would take to ensure improved teaching and learning at the classroom level would be to provide professional development opportunities for teachers regarding effective instruction methods beyond drilling students in sample test items. Such professional development should emphasize methods such as inquiry based instruction which focuses on having students ask questions about their world, collaboratively explore topics related to these questions and come up with solutions (Pelleschi & Frasson 2020). This approach encourages students to think critically about their content areas while also allowing them to build meaningful connections between the subject material being presented and real life applications.
The second step is providing teachers access to resources such as instructional materials (eBooks, online lectures) which can be used during class time or assigned as homework assignments outside of class time. These resources can supplement traditional course curriculum by introducing new concepts relevant topics not covered by textbooks alone (Gardner et al., 2016). Additionally they can serve are great reference and study guides for many academic subjects including Math Science English language arts etc., helping increase student knowledge across multiple disciplines without narrowing down the scope of what is taught in classrooms just because it covers sample test items only.
The third step towards creating an effective non high stake testing atmosphere within my school or district would involve engaging parents/guardians in meaningful conversations about their child’s education experience. Parental involvement has been linked with positive student outcomes (Sampson & Ramey 2012), so it is essential for administrators like myself encourage parental/guardian engagement both at home and school setting . I will aim do this by providing clear communication channels between parents/guardians ,teachers and other educators involved in the educational process . If done properly ,this could lead stronger relationships among all stakeholders involved inspiring better teaching practices from teachers which will ultimately result into better overall performance from students .
Overall improving teaching practices does not have come solely relying on drills for high stakes tests but rather taking an holistic approach when it comes preparing students for future exams through focusing on enriching pedagogically sound curriculums emphasized critical thinking skills development activities encouraging parent engagements etc.. By doing so we can create an environment where our children are able obtain necessary skills required navigate successfully through college career paths while still maintaining some balance between academics achievement social emotional wellness .
References:
Gardner H Cole C C de Azevedo M T J Deakins J B Finley S N Lasater G L Wise S L Wissick B & Yee D (2016 ) Improved Instructional Materials Enhance Student Performance: Evidence From a Randomized Field Experiment Educational Evaluation Policy Analysis 38(3) pp 1-20
Pelleschi C & Frassonb E M P 2020 Inquiry Based Learning : Benefits Process Strategies Current Biology 30(7) pp1120 – 1124
Sampson R J Jr & Ramey C T 2012 Home Is Where The Story Begins: Understanding Parent Involvement During Early Childhood Education Policy Analysis Archives 20(2) p 25