How are the current educational trends (testing, assessing) replacing actual learning with memorization?

Question

This has been seen throughout the country, the replacement of teaching and conveying not only the course material, but common sense, life skills, and basic necessities that our youth seem to lack today.

Answer 1

I totally agree that the testing and assessment is focusing not just on memorization, but memorization of certian information. It is so focused that those kids who have a natural interest or aptitude for certain subjects can't get beyond the basics in class.

We need to bring back discussions, research papers, etc. I was writing research papers as early as 3rd grade.

UNFORTUNATELY another big affect on the kids today in learning, is lack of parental involvement. With both parents working (sometimes multiple jobs) or single parents struggling just to put food on the table, there is often not enough time in the day (or energy in their body) for some parents to be more involved in their child's education process.

Not only does the school system need to reasses their programs (No Child Left Behind is good in theory, but needs some reform)... but parents need to be more involved and in some areas that means we need an economic/income boost.

Answer 2

I think you have made a false assumption. Yes, states are doing much more testing now to find out the state of their education systems. These are not tests that one can memorize their way to a good score. The tests involve true thinking at a higher level than mere memorization and regurgitation of facts. Schools are doing more "teaching to the test" because teachers are being evaluated on how much they have done in class to meet the testing standards and they have less latitude to decide what order to teach their subject. As for common sense, too many parents complain when teachers try to interfere in a childs home education on life. Teachers are being forced to teach only their subject unless specifically requested by parents to do more.

Answer 3

People constantly bashing education at every chance, when they have no idea what they are talking about is part of the problem.

Testing is not the answer. There is no way to test some of the skills children need to be successful in life. Additionally, tests are flawed, grading is flawed. Every year we read of accounts where students (young and adult) have mistakenly received failing grades. In the case of the adults, some have lost jobs, sold houses, moved, changed jobs. Students have not been promoted or been allowed to graduate. Tests should not have this much "power" or influence over a person's life. The only proper use of a test in school is to use it to decide what skills need to be improved. The only purpose of a test for an adult is to determine what skills they possess and what needs improvement and how to place them for employment and how a mentor might help.

NCLB needs to be completely revamped and completely funded
and trashed until that is done.

Answer 4

This could be the debateable question of the year, huh?

Well, CERTAINLY teaching with ONLY standards in mind is not right. It's such political nonsense, really.

When No Child Left Behind first went into effect, there was major pressure to teach to the standards and basically get rid of all the creativity which brought many into the proession. Now, though, it seems the pendulum is swinging back and we are "allowed" to be more creative and not so scripted as before.

Standards are important, but they're not the be-all end-all!

Answer 5

First off, "actual learning" is not memorization, although it involves some memorizing.
What most states are trying to implement is a bane to teachers and students alike. "No Child Left Behind" is a bunch of well-intentioned crock. "It just don't work none!"
Also, there is no teacher in the public school system that can be responsible for teaching any child or young person WISDOM (which includes common sense). The main problem is that kids are being told that they are to be TAUGHT, and not that it is their responsibility to LEARN.

Answer 6

Actually the current movement is trying to get away from that. I'm getting my Masters in education and 'memorization' is Not a good word. Also, There are multiple ways of assessing, not just by standardized testing. That is a thing we are trying to move away from. It's obviously going to be a long process though.

Answer 7

Testing is a double edged sword. Yes, there needs to be some accountability of teachers. I have worked with some bad ones. There are teachers out there who don't teach with anything except a series of worksheets and movies. Testing is supposed to make sure that teachers are accountable for their teaching. However, what happens is that good teachers are forced to divert their teaching from actual learning to teaching dates, facts and other random and primarily useless information. I teach history in Texas and I will say that aside from a few dates I don't teach to the test. I teach how to analyze information and make deductions. My reward? 100% pass rate for my students. Unfortunately too many principles and teachers are afraid of making the leap of faith. They want to teach the test and make students memorize useless information.
My opinion is that schools should stop being rated by tests and by how many students go on to trade schools, and colleges. This should be the goal of schools: to prepare students for the future, not passing tests.

Answer 8

So many people are bashing NCLB and although I don't agree with all of the program I have to say many people are making assumptions and statements on something they know nothing or very little about. The NCLB program is still in it's infant stages and hasn't been fully implemented yet so it will be years before we know if it works or not. NO!, we should not teach to test. A good teacher will be able to teach his/her students in such a way that we make learning fun, interesting, and all encompassing. If you have to (teach to test) then you're not doing your job. If we are truly teaching our students and teaching them how to think critically as a part of our curriculum they should do just fine on the test. Quit blaming NCLB for teachers who JUST AREN'T DOING THEIR JOBS!

Answer 9

I don't really understand your question. but from what I get from reading it...I don't think it's "trends" that are replacing the actual but it's more because the teachers have to follow the No Child Left Behind Act and they have to teach as much as they can TO the test so that they can get AYP with the students.

i don't know if that really makes sense or not but there you go.

Answer 10

It's all geared to tests. Schools get their state aid based on how their school did on the tests. Teachers are forced to teach kids how to pass the tests, not actually learn. It's a disservice to everyone.