Feds tout computerized tests for key skills

Ray Jashembowski
EDLA615 Language Arts and Technology
10/03/07
Current Issue 2

Title: Feds tout computerized tests for key skills
Publisher: eSchool News online
Date of Publication: October 3, 2007
Author: Meris Stansbury, Assistant Editor, eSchool News

Link: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=7424&page=1

Summary: We now have ways to test 21st century skills according to this article. The article was based on a 2003 study funded by the National Center for Education Statistics which is a division of the U.S. Department of Education. The study explored two computer based scenarios for measuring 21st century skills that couldn’t be done by traditional pencil and paper or multiple choice exams. Examples of these 21st century skills include problem solving and synthesizing information. Eighth graders, approximately 2000 of them from U.S. public schools were chosen under the assumptions they would have basic computer skills, basic exposure to scientific inquiry and concepts, and the ability to read scientifically orientated material at a sixth grade level. The scenario had students’ research information about scientific helium balloons from a simulated World Wide Web setting. The students were required to “conduct experiments of increasing complexity about relationships among buoyancy, mass, volume, and it was designed to assess their scientific exploration, scientific synthesis, and computer skills.” Researchers mentioned that the U.S. is probably five years away from adapting this type of assessment. Authors also mentioned that these scenarios are testing skills that are needed in college and the workplace. The exams were done on school computers or laptops brought in to test computer based problems and performed well for as assessments. The results did show large differences regarding race, ethnic background, parent education, and socioeconomic groups. These differences were mentioned could be trouble if they continued to show up in both scenarios. All in all, 21st century skills can be tested and the researchers stated they should be incorporated into the state mandated tests under No Child Left Behind.
The use of computer based testing is a direct connection to integrating technology into language arts for improving student learning.
My perspective is that we need these skills now and to have methods of testing them almost available to teachers is an excellent development. The study was done in 2003 and the article stated technology is only getting better for these tests to succeed. Whether our curriculum has technology integrated in it or not, more and more of us are using technology to prepare our students, thus we should be testing based on the technology as well. Skills needed to succeed in college or the workplace should be taught and tested, by doing so the testing will also help with the ethical issues surrounding students using technology. This could be part of the answer we are all looking for.