Shifting to Adaptive Testing, Essay Example

My action research is going on well, and I am in the process of data analysis received from the Harry Potter reading comprehension classes. It is very timely for me to receive the task of stating my opinion about adaptive testing, since I have come across a similar problem in my classroom – providing students of all levels, average, below the average, and above the average – with adequate assessment of their skills and academic progress. As stated by Davis (2012), adaptive testing is equally good for average students as traditional testing is; however, as for exceptional or struggling students, it offers a range of additional opportunities and benefits. I have faced such a situation many times, when the struggling students are discouraged by the testing results as they are unable to answer the majority of standardized questions aimed at average knowledge, so they are distressed and pessimistic about their ability to learn. As for above-the-average students, they often feel relaxed about answering all questions correctly, but at the same time, teachers are unable to assess their true level of knowledge and meet their further needs for development, since the testing structure is not directed at going far beyond the assigned material. Adaptive testing is a way to get a more sensitive assessment tool that would empower struggling students, and would provide an adequate picture of exceptional students’ knowledge. However, there are indeed some problems with longer answers in such subjects as reading and language. Adaptive testing is still unable to check essays and longer answers, which is the challenge to be overcome in the near future in this field.

References

Davis, M. R. (2012). Shifting to Adaptive Testing. Education Week Digital Directions (October 17), pp. 6-7.