Testing
Students are assessed by their classroom teachers on a regular basis, but in grades 3, 6, 9 and 10, they are also assessed through standardized tests administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). This section provides information, parent tips, research, news and opinions about standardized testing.
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Sep 26
EQAO tests show mixed results
New EQAO results show that students who choose Applied math are more likely to struggle than students in Academic math, no matter how they did on EQAO math tests in grade 3 and 6.
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The truth about the “crisis” in education
There has been a lot of talk in the media in the last week about discussions between the province, teachers and school boards. In some cases the information has been
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Swedish goals for education include curiosity and confidence
From Education Week, Anthony Jackson, January 10, 2012: Sweden: The answer isn’t A.B.B.A. …The objectives of a useful education now include real-life applications for knowledge, the ability to analyze and
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Nov 10
Edmonton public school board will ask province to scrap Grade 3 achievement tests
In her election platform, Alberta's new Premier pledged to eliminate standardized tests for grade 3 and 6 students, and to look at the effectiveness of Alberta's Provincial Achievement Tests in general. The Edmonton School board has voted to ask the Premier to replace Grade 3 testing with more appropriate assessments.
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What Can We Learn From Finland?
Diane Ravitch, an internationally recognized expert on education, has been expressing dismay about current education reforms in the United States. In this blog, she describes her trip to Finland and her amazement at how different Finnish educational goals are from American ones.
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Canadian Council on Learning paints gloomy picture for Canadian education
In their final report before closing their doors, the Canadian Council on Learning decries the lack of national standards and governance over public education in Canada.
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Oct 03
Personal best: Top athletes and singers have coaches. Should you?
A New Yorker article about coaching says research shows that what works for athletes is also true for teachers and doctors.
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Sep 29
The secret to Finland’s success
How do Finnish schools outperform schools around the world - with no testing, no competition between schools and a free warm meal for every student every day?
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Jul 28
Teachers feel pressure to cheat on tests
Standardized testing is one of the most hotly debated topics in the P4E online community. In the U.S., some teachers feel pressure to cheat.
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Feb 04
Standardized testing
rebellion in B.C.In British Columbia, principals join the call for changes to the province's focus on standardized tests.
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Mar 25
Champions of standardized testing change their tunes
A former architect of school reform in Ontario and a former undersecretary of education under George Bush are among those warning that current education policies are driving us in the wrong direction.