EDLD+5364+-+Week+4+-+Using+UDL+to+Accurately+Assess+Student+Progress

From ** Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age: Universal Design for Learning ** David H. Rose & Anne Meyer - Chapter 7: Using UDL to Accurately Assess Student Progress.

// “Most current assessments are not designed to accommodate individual differences. Generally, educators have interpreted "fairness" to mean that assessments are uniform in format and administered in a standardized fashion�the same test is given in exactly the same way and under the same conditions for each learner. In some situations, and for some purposes, standardized administration is indeed appropriate, particularly if the format and circumstance of the test exactly match the requirements of a future task.” // //“Russell and Haney (1997, 2000) investigated the effects of different modes of expression (handwriting versus keyboarding) on standardized test scores of regular education students. They found that scores supposedly based on content alone were strongly influenced by the expressive medium. Standardized tests can yield valuable information, but as accurate assessments of individual students' skills, knowledge, and learning, these assessment tools are severely flawed.”//

After reading this chapter I wonder if the powers that be ever keep abreast of the many studies that are published every year that attest to the fact that standardized tests do not work! This is my first year teaching a TAKS grade and I already despise the test. It frustrates the students; it puts unbelievable pressure on my low readers and bores my high readers to death! Both tests are reading tests even if the content of one of them is supposedly mathematics. Even though some of my students might know the content and have no problem solving mathematical problems, they might confront issues because they are not high readers. Math tests should be about math – it might come as a surprise to state administrators but it DOES have its own language. They are called numbers and symbols!

I think we are all guilty of the "standardized" assessment sin. It is a lot easier to grade a multiple question test than a project. Even with a detailed rubric, it can still be very subjective. We should definitely move towards project-based assessments that give the students the opportunity to show mastery of content in ways that make sense for them! Not everybody does well in the paper and pencil world or even in the testing world for that matter!