Subject: Change in state standards

Posted by Steve Crowley on 3/10/2009
In Reply To:Change in state standards Posted by Janice Hansel on 3/10/2009

Message:

Students Benefit From Depth, Rather Than Breadth, In High School Science Courses
ScienceDaily (Mar. 10, 2009) ¬ A recent study reports that high school students who study fewer science topics, but study them in greater depth, have an advantage in college science classes over their peers who study more topics and spend less time on each.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305131814.htm


I agree. I suggest that science testing, to the extent that it must happen, be broken down into a number of clusters, with students testing on, for example, 3 out of 5 areas. As a HS Bio teacher, I make a choice every day about whether I pace based on covering content or based on what my students are learning. I tend to go with engaging brain cells, which I think comes from the inherent appreciation of achieving more profound understanding with depth. What would be more motivating.... climbing five little hills, or one serious mountain?

I'm not opposed to accountability through testing, but the standardized tests that I've seen all have it very wrong.

Follow Ups:

Change in state standards - Steve Bosacker 4/19/2009