NEW USE FOR SCHOOL COMPUTERS

There is a Google discussion group that deals with education is fascinating in its scope. It is entitled, Educations Revolution. The site host invites everyone to join with the following note: “Thinking about how and why teaching and learning are redefined in the age of the Internet. Join us in our other online space at:  http://www.LearningRevolution.com.

Most of the contributors are young eager, in some cases idealistic teachers; however, there are a few gray beards like myself, as well as some educational entrepreneurs, as well as a few “nay sayers” to make it interesting. The enthusiasm of the young educators for example in terms of “on line education” and use of “apps” in the class room is catching. Once in a great while a subject is introduced is really new. This happened yesterday. A fellow named +Paul Simbeck-Hampson referenced an article about testing that is being used by the Danish Ministry of Education. The web address for the article is:

http://eng.uvm.dk/Education/Primary-and-Lower-Secondary-Education/The-Folkeskole/Evaluation-Tests-Student-and-Plans

The testing used is computer based. Testing is an iterative process that educators could do with massive extracorporeal memory only available on a computer; thus, is a perfect subject for this discussion site—in fact, in my opinion, it opens up a completely new dimension for test writers. The program presents a question to a student, which the student answers. If the answer is correct, a more difficult question pops up but if it is wrong, the computer presents the student with an easier question. Obviously, witting such test will take years of study and development but it seems to be a technique that educators could ultimately be customize and refine, not only to probe a student’s depth of knowledge, but also delve into the area of a his or her interest. Testing would no longer be impersonal—I find this an absolutely amazing use of 21^st century technology.

My comment to Mr. Simbeck-Hampson on the web site was in keeping with the subject of student testing as it was being discussed on the web site was as follows: This (sic-the Danish article) is a great piece. One, it clearly implies teachers are needed to direct student learning. Two, the program suggests small classes are necessary. Three, and most important, the program means students are individually evaluated by testing—I see this as a great advancement in education. Of course, it means that someone has to pay to have small class size. Sadly, the drive for privatization of educations and charter schools is a move to accomplish this for a select group—the “haves” that want their children to have more.

School administrators cannot plop down students in a room and be told to teach themselves to learn what they want to learn. On top of being well schooled in a subject, teachers have to be highly trained professionals to be able to write the tests and evaluate the answers to meet the needs of those with myriad learning abilities and disabilities. What I am fighting is both the nonsensical empty rhetoric that testing is bad for students and that students can teach themselves. 

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