2008 Woodie Awards
Standardized tests not just for high school students anymore
Nik Nelson
Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A new brand of standardized testing has been brought into light, this time for college students not just high school students. This test is taken by freshman and seniors. It is designed to observe and record the knowledge they gained through the general college classes they took.
The UW system schools have already agreed to participate, because they are involved with the Voluntary System of Accountability. Dr. Bill Cerbin, a Professor of Psychology, Assistant to the Provost, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs here at UW-L, explains, "A university that participates in the accountability system develops a College Portrait based on many different aspects of the institution such as student characteristics, financial aid, types of programs offered, student housing, campus safety, students' perceptions of their experiences, and much more. Much of the information in the College Portrait is information you would find in the university catalog and brochures from the Admissions Office, the Office of Student Life, the Registrar and so forth."
The main concern surrounding the testing is whether or not the test will be accurate and beneficial. Chancellor Joe Gow states that he has, "yet to be convinced that a single test can capture all the learning and growth that our students experience here," because he is a strong believer that each student's experience at UW-L is not just measurable in a classroom, and each individual's learning experience is "unique and strong." He also states that he is, "very reluctant to see schools compete to see who can get the highest scores." He believes the test would be more beneficial if it were possible to "provide a test that truly captures learning," and he is afraid that seniors may be too busy to focus on the test.
Dr. Cerbin explains, "If we used the results to try to improve student learning-that would be beneficial. I think the tests will not be beneficial if they are taken out of context and used to make sweeping judgments about the quality of an institution."
The UW system schools have already agreed to participate, because they are involved with the Voluntary System of Accountability. Dr. Bill Cerbin, a Professor of Psychology, Assistant to the Provost, and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs here at UW-L, explains, "A university that participates in the accountability system develops a College Portrait based on many different aspects of the institution such as student characteristics, financial aid, types of programs offered, student housing, campus safety, students' perceptions of their experiences, and much more. Much of the information in the College Portrait is information you would find in the university catalog and brochures from the Admissions Office, the Office of Student Life, the Registrar and so forth."
The main concern surrounding the testing is whether or not the test will be accurate and beneficial. Chancellor Joe Gow states that he has, "yet to be convinced that a single test can capture all the learning and growth that our students experience here," because he is a strong believer that each student's experience at UW-L is not just measurable in a classroom, and each individual's learning experience is "unique and strong." He also states that he is, "very reluctant to see schools compete to see who can get the highest scores." He believes the test would be more beneficial if it were possible to "provide a test that truly captures learning," and he is afraid that seniors may be too busy to focus on the test.
Dr. Cerbin explains, "If we used the results to try to improve student learning-that would be beneficial. I think the tests will not be beneficial if they are taken out of context and used to make sweeping judgments about the quality of an institution."
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