Re: Cheating on Standardized Tests/Test Misues &

[James Powell <powell@NS.NET>]

Deanna,

I would appreciate it if your would give me a little information about your
background and experience.  You sound like a professional who has done and is
doing some quality thinking about the mess we have gotten ourselves into with
regard to group testing.  Of course test publishers have invested large sums of
money in test development. Of course they are in it to make a decent profit.
However, "having lost sight of their goals, they have redoubled their effort."
There are several reasons I believe published test are detrimental to education (
I am referring to commercially published, norm referenced, usually multiple choice
tests).  The first and most important reason is that we have lost control of
commercial  testing and of the use of the results.  There are many more reasons,
but I won't go into them now.  Please consider information on
<http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/scandal.htm><www.nypostonline.com:80/092798/news/6132.htm>
After you read these, let me know what you think.

You asked about my background.  I was a teacher, psychologist, and administrator
in several school districts.  I took early retirement and opened a private
practice as a psychologist.  I am no interested in accountability of our
educational system and particularly in assessment.

James Powell, Ph.D
powell@ns.net

Deanna M. De'Liberto wrote:

> In a message dated 10/5/98 7:49:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time, powell@NS.NET
> writes:
>
> >
> >  Let's face it standardized tests (norm referenced, commercially produced )
> > and
> >  most of all the results of the testing are out of the hands of educators.
> > It is
> >  now in the hands of the many "educational reform" groups, politicians and
> > others
> >  with agendas and axes to grind.
>
> Is this the fault of the test publishers or the test users?
> Why don't educators, not politicians, make decisions about education issues?
> Why have we allowed this to happen?
>
> Any instrument that provides simple numbers
> > that
> >  can be used to compare teachers,schools, districts, hire and fire, provide
> > self
> >  aggrandizement for columnists, and influence property values is too
> > seductive and
> >  powerful an instrument to be left to the professionals.
>
> All of the above represents test misuse and abuse--UNLESS it can be shown that
> the test is valid for measuring the above.
>
> [SNIP]
> We need to be creative, think differently
> > and, to
> >  use an "in "term, search for and/or develop a paradigm shift. That is only
> > my
> >  opinion and I could be wrong (It has happened before.
>
> If you consider Nancy's suggestions for proposed alternatives to assessment as
> creative, then we are on the same page here.  But as noted, even these can be
> misused and used for purposes other than what they should be used for.
>
>  Test publishers are
> > in
> >  business for the money.
>
> Gee, not all test publishers are making millions.  We do not develop or sell
> norm-referenced shelf tests.  We only sell custom designed tests which are
> very expensive to develop properly.  While we do want to make a profit--what
> business is in business to lose money--we do feel that it is incumbent upon us
> to ensure that the tests we develop are valid and adhere to the various
> standards documents.  All I am saying is don not convict all test publishers.
> There are some that are committed to doing it right.
>
> I have difficulty invisioning a program of test
> > quality
> >  and security police and without that, we will continue to have massive
> > cheating
> >  and other  misuse of standardized tests.
> >
> >  Jaames Powell
> >  powell@ns.net
>
> I do not have any difficulty invisioning this--I do admit that there is great
> difficulty in implementing it.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
> Deanna
> ===================================================
> Deanna M. De'Liberto, President/Director of Assessment
> D Squared Assessments, Inc.
> (Specialists in Test Development/Validation and Test Administration)
> 9 Bedle Road, Suite 250
> Hazlet, NJ 07730-1209
> Phone:  (732) 888-9339
> Email:    Ddeliberto@aol.com
> Web:     http://www.quikpage.com/D/dsquared
>
> Member of the Association of Test Publishers
> ===================================================
>
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