Popham, W. J. (2001). The Truth about Testing: An Educator's Call to Action.Alexandria Alexandria, city, Egypt Alexandria, Arabic Al Iskandariyah, city (1996 pop. 3,328,196), N Egypt, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is at the western extremity of the Nile River delta, situated on a narrow isthmus between the sea and Lake Mareotis (Maryut). , VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, or ASCD, is a membership-based nonprofit organization founded in 1943. It has more than 175,000 members in 135 countries, including superintendents, supervisors, principals, teachers, professors of education, and (166pp., $23.95pb, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0-87120-523-8). Today's high-stakes tests, as they are used in most settings, are doing serious educational harm to children (p. 1)." This is the central message of W. James Popham's The Truth About Testing: An Educator's Call to Action. Based on his extensive experience as an educator and test developer, as well as his expertise in educational measurement, Popham provides a well-reasoned, step-by-step analysis of the serious problems surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. current use of high-stakes tests in American education. Popham's goal is to guide the reader to an understanding of the misuses of high-stakes testing A high-stakes test is an assessment which has important consequences for the test taker. If the examinee passes the test, then the examinee may receive significant benefits, such as a high school diploma or a license to practice law. , as well as to develop the insight to distinguish between tests that are instructionally useful and those that are not. With candor can·dor n. 1. Frankness or sincerity of expression; openness. 2. Freedom from prejudice; impartiality. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, from and wit, Popham leads the reader through a discussion of the historical factors, basic measurement concepts, educational implications, and policy issues involved in high-stakes testing. The introduction provides a brief, but thorough, historical account of how high-stakes tests gained their current position as the ultimate evaluation of student success and instructional quality. Chapter 1 details how current testing policies result in negative consequences in the classroom, including a focus on test scores instead of actual learning, misidentification of effective and ineffective schools, and reduction of curriculum to cover only test content. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 discuss basic measurement and test development concepts essential to understanding flaws in current testing practice. This discussion is literally a call to action and Popham frequently reminds the reader of the action that is needed--"Within 48 hours of completing Chapter 3, I fully expect you to strong-arm some poor soul into hearing you recount the problems with standardized standardized pertaining to data that have been submitted to standardization procedures. standardized morbidity rate see morbidity rate. standardized mortality rate see mortality rate. achievement tests" (p. 38). This is a call to action not only for educators, but also parents, policymakers, and all others concerned with the consequences of current testing practices. Popham's direct style, organization, and generous use of examples make this discussion accessible to all readers. For those familiar with the debate over high-stakes testing, Popham's arguments are not new. However, Popham successfully presents a critique of current testing practices that is both comprehensive and easily understood. The Truth About Testing also moves beyond criticism of current practice and provides guidelines guidelines, n.pl a set of standards, criteria, or specifications to be used or followed in the performance of certain tasks. for identifying or developing tests that are instructionally useful (Chapter 5), as well as taking action to correct the current testing debacle (Chapter 6). Popham's book is a timely and intensely relevant work for all educators, including those working with gifted students. High-stakes testing has historically played a prominent role in gifted education Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented. Programs providing such education are sometimes called Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) or . Therefore, The Truth About Testing should be a special call to action for all involved in gifted education. Popham's arguments should generate reflection about how problems with high-stakes testing impact gifted students and practices in gifted education. Popham's discussion of instructionally useful tests is also relevant to curriculum development for gifted students, as educators seek to evaluate what students already know and what they are ready to learn. The Truth About Testing equips readers with the basic knowledge and motivation needed to take action to change current testing practices. It could easily be used as a guide for professional development or parent education workshops. Reviewed by Dawn Bramer, M. Ed., a former teacher of the gifted and now a doctoral student in school psychology at The University of Iowa Not to be confused with Iowa State University. The first faculty offered instruction at the University in March 1855 to students in the Old Mechanics Building, situated where Seashore Hall is now. In September 1855, the student body numbered 124, of which, 41 were women. and a research assistant at The Belin-Blank Center. |
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