Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-18-2024 11:45 AM
End Date
4-18-2024 1:15 PM
Description of Program
This presentation assesses the effects of standardized testing on grades 3-8 students in Illinois. It covers various aspects such as student fairness, and the teacher's and parent's perceptions towards the tests. Standardized testing has resulted in teachers only teaching what is necessary for exams, impacting low-income families more than others due to limited resources like test preparation or tutoring services. Furthermore, these tests can lead to heightened levels of stress causing negative impacts on mental health and critical thinking skills development so some argue that it shouldn't be a part of school curriculums despite being useful.
Abstract
This presentation examines the impact of standardized testing on students in grades 3 to 8 in Illinois. I will explore how standardized tests affect students' grades, fairness in education and their overall happiness using existing research and data. I will also investigate the perceptions and attitudes of teachers, parents, and students towards standardized testing. My findings indicate that while standardized testing may provide valuable information about student performance and help identify areas for improvement in education systems, it also has several negative consequences. Big tests can make teachers only teach for the test, instead of teaching everything. Big tests worsen differences between students who have money and students who do not have any money. Research suggests that low-income students are disproportionately affected by these tests due to limited access to resources like test preparation materials or tutoring services. For 3rd graders, there are practice tests and videos they can use to prepare for the test, but these resources can only do so much for students. Also, these test prep resources do not refer to high school standardized tests. As a result, they often experience lower scores compared to their more privileged peers. Another significant impact of standardized testing is the potential negative effect on student well-being and motivation. Studies have found increased levels of stress and anxiety among students during testing periods. Also, teaching students just for the test could stop them from developing their creative and critical thinking skills. While some stakeholders advocate for continued use of standardized tests as a measure of school accountability and teacher effectiveness, others argue that standardized testing should not be in the curriculum in schools.
Faculty / Staff Sponsor
Laura White
Presentation File
wf_yes
Included in
Unlocking the Potential: Unraveling the Impact of Standardized Testing on 3-8th Graders in Illinois
University Library
This presentation examines the impact of standardized testing on students in grades 3 to 8 in Illinois. I will explore how standardized tests affect students' grades, fairness in education and their overall happiness using existing research and data. I will also investigate the perceptions and attitudes of teachers, parents, and students towards standardized testing. My findings indicate that while standardized testing may provide valuable information about student performance and help identify areas for improvement in education systems, it also has several negative consequences. Big tests can make teachers only teach for the test, instead of teaching everything. Big tests worsen differences between students who have money and students who do not have any money. Research suggests that low-income students are disproportionately affected by these tests due to limited access to resources like test preparation materials or tutoring services. For 3rd graders, there are practice tests and videos they can use to prepare for the test, but these resources can only do so much for students. Also, these test prep resources do not refer to high school standardized tests. As a result, they often experience lower scores compared to their more privileged peers. Another significant impact of standardized testing is the potential negative effect on student well-being and motivation. Studies have found increased levels of stress and anxiety among students during testing periods. Also, teaching students just for the test could stop them from developing their creative and critical thinking skills. While some stakeholders advocate for continued use of standardized tests as a measure of school accountability and teacher effectiveness, others argue that standardized testing should not be in the curriculum in schools.