Hank Morgan (educator): practice.parcc.testnav I wanted to pass on a link to the practice PARCC test that was released earlier this year. The online format of the test poses serious new challenges in assessment, and I believe it is imperative that teachers, parents, and kids see and experience the test format before the spring when it will be implemented. Viewing and taking the test will hopefully inform your opinion on the quality of the test and your decision on how to proceed with state testing for your child. I will be honest that, I have serious concerns about the validity of this online format to truly assess literacy. Most literacy research indicates people do not read or comprehend as well in an online format. The PARCC format which requires scrolling on two different screens, as well as toggling between different windows, in order to answer objective questions and write essays seems overly complicated and counterproductive. Additionally, the requirement to highlight sentences via the computer touch pad and the task of dragging and clicking information to record answers also seems to pose a huge risk for error, if not simply increasing frustrations and resignation for many students. At the very least, I recommend that you and your children take this practice test. I have worked through several levels, and I think the 7th grade language arts example is particularly telling in the various question formats it presents. I believe schools/students could need years to adapt to this online format. Yet, despite originating in 2010, PARCC only released an actual online practice test last May/June. This short window is why you will continue to read that schools/teachers are frustrated with the timelines for implementing new standards and tests. And that is the reason numerous bills were introduced last year - but voted down on party lines - to delay implementation of the new testing system. Now that schools and teachers actually have the practice test, I expect this new information will lead to even more lost instructional time as teachers will feel compelled to have kids practice testing in an online format. practice.parcc.testnav Please feel free to pass the link on to others and encourage them to take the test.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 03:50:57 +0000
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