Purpose Of Testing

Purpose of testing 1

Briefly discuss the concept “grade inflation”.

This is a term that is used to describe the high marks given to students which are not concomitant with their performance. According to Wikipedia (2007) 20 July, it is often ‘conflated with lax academic standards’. It also refers to the high marks that are given to students who present work which is authentically not their own. 2

What is an aptitude test battery?

It is counselling and guidance decisions” that are taken to identify the skills the students can learn most quickly and easily, which can also be used as a barometer to the type of tasks an individual will most enjoy, which will eventually be used to determine the programme which is appropriate for the student to learn or study. From http://www.policetestprep.com/gatb.html, retrieved July 20, 2007. 3

Briefly discuss the types of educational decisions every classroom teacher must make.

Instructional decision making According to the Iowa department of Education, it is a process whereby the students have an access to a ‘viable curriculum provided by the school through the core instructional program’. Assessment is regularly done to accumulate each student responses to the curriculum. Students who are identified as needing additional support are provided with ‘supplementary and core instructions’. This process allows for students to receive instructions which address their unique learning needs. From http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/801/840/, retrieved July 20, 2007. Grading decision making These are decisions that are less frequently made by the teacher in the classroom. The teacher may decide who of his students get higher marks and who get lower marks. The decision to give higher marks or lower marks is informed by test scores and other data or information obtained from performance and portfolio assessments. The teacher may also consider factors such as ‘attendance, ability, attitude, behavior and effort’ to grade his students’ performance in the classroom.

Diagnostic decision making These are decisions that a teacher make to determine the strength or weakness and the reasons for those strength and weaknesses of his or her learners. 4

Briefly discuss the type of data that is needed for diagnostic decisions.

Objective test data (standardized assessment data) The teacher may use formative as well as benchmark assessments to make a choice of what interventions may be put in place in the delivery of instructional matter. The teachers have to determine the progress the progress of the students bearing in mind the proper method of analysis and the reliability and analysis of the external measure. From http://www.3d2know.org/FAQ.html#def, retrieved July 20, 2007. Subjective judgment (teacher made data)

Norm and criterion referenced tests 1

Briefly discuss the educational decisions for which you would want to use norm referenced test. (Encourages competition)

2

Briefly discuss the educational decisions for which you would want to use criterion referenced test. (Encourages cooperation) Decisions

1. Instructional 2. Grading 3. Diagnostic 4. Selection 5. Placement 6. Counseling and Guidance 7. Program or Curriculum 8. Administrative 8.1 On students 8.1.1 Promotion 8.1.2 Graduation

Norm referenced tests √ √ √ √ √ √

Criterion referenced tests X √ √ √ X √

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X X