Chapter 8 Using Standardized Tests to Look at Cognitive Development “A fair assessment of any child cannot be gathered with any one recording instrument on.
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Chapter 8 Using Standardized Tests to Look at Cognitive Development “A fair assessment of any child cannot be gathered with any one recording instrument on any one day.” ©2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. A WORLD OF TESTS & STANDARDS • Tests – To gain information – To certify a certain level of competence – To assess knowledge & skills learned • Standards – Statement that defines a goal or practice to • Give clarity to the subject matter • Set expectations for achievements • Set benchmarks for accountability ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Standards Movement • All states are or have developed learning standards for all grades, including preschool • Question format is the appropriate way to assess children’s progress using these standards • Nationwide public school measurement of accountability using standardized tests ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Difficulty in Testing Young Children • Pre-literate • Still much variability in domains of development • Short attention span • Immature understanding of “do your best” • Many tests do not “fit” the experiences of the child, resulting in false indicators of deficits ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Standardized Tests • Same measure is administered in the same way to determine an individual result compared to an expected response – Trained test administrator – Strict adherence to the procedures – Limited or single response counted as correct – Result is a numerical score – Compared to the scores another group of children attained ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Assessment, Yes Test, No It is important to assess (measure) what a child knows and can do: 1. To promote children’s learning and development 2. To identify a child for health and special services – early identification 3. To monitor trends and evaluate programs and services (How are all the children doing?) 4. To hold individual students, teachers, schools accountable (This is “high stakes” assessment and should not be used lower than third grade) ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Uses of Standardized Tests Advantages • If used appropriately, it MAY assess a child’s capabilities • Recognized tests for intervention • Must be used with other forms of information for an overall picture of the child Disadvantages • Child feels pressure • Norms do not match child’s culture • Children lack experience in testing situation • Decisions may be made based on a false reading • Tests punish economically disadvantaged and LEP children ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. If You HAVE to Administer a Standardized Test . . . • Must be beneficial • Test based on development • Used for purpose it was created for • Special considerations for screening purposes • Individually administered • Skill-based, not written • Not time-limited • Minimal preparation of child for test ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Play and Cognitive Development • Play involves the whole child – All domains • Play is child-initiated, not teacher-directed • Teacher sets the stage, observes, supports • Vygotsky – Child’s actions are supported and extended by more mature player ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Assessing Other Developmental Areas While Observing Math and Science • Cognitive development – Intellectual, not just knowledge but also • Skills – Actions that reveal abilities • Dispositions – Ways that each person responds to experiences, approaches to learning REMEMBER: Areas of development impact one another. ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Observing Developing Mathematical Concepts • Rote – Counting from memory • One-to-one correspondence – Accurately counting objects • Ordinal numbers – Place words • Whole/Part – Fractions • Conservation – Volume is unaffected by form • Measurement – Weight, length, breadth • Geometry – Round, square • Pattern – Regularity repeated • Classifying – Matching • Visual-Spatial – Spaces • Problem solving – Using logic • Seriation – Placing in order • Mathematics and literacy ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Observing Developing Scientific Concepts • Health Science and Nutrition – Workings of the human body • Life Science – Plants, animals, ecology • Physical Science – Force motion, energy • Earth and Space Science – Air, water, constellations • Environmental Awareness – fragile resources and their protection ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Young Children and Technology Issues: Amount of screen time reduces active play Digital divide – accessibility gap between economic groups Learning from electronic media – Good and bad • Consumerism • Social behavior • Stereotypes • Literacy ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Assessment of Other Domains during MST Activities • Self-care, including classroom areas and animal care responsibilities • Large Muscle – Movement, coordination and strength • Small Muscle – Hand/eye coordination • Literacy – Reading and writing labels, instructions, observations of activities • Language – Vocabulary, ability to hear and understand directions and responses ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. TOPICS IN OBSERVATION ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. ASSESSING THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS Observe but not test – • Attention and approaches to learning • Remembering and connecting experiences • Interest in exploring environment • Problem solving ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. HELPING ALL CHILDREN WITH COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT • • • • • Poverty’s Effect on Learning Children Who Are Cognitively Impaired Inclusion Talented and Gifted Helping Professionals ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Standards Related to Math and Science for Young Children • NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and Accreditation Criteria • 2.G.02 Preschool, Kindergarten • Children are provided varied opportunities and materials to learn key content and principles of science such as: – The difference between living and non-living things… – Earth and sky… – Structure and property of matter…. ©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.