Is EQAO testing failing our Ontario children?

I have long been against EQAO testing.

Testing, Assessment & Evaluation

Assessing for Improvement
Why do we test?
It does not diagnose causes for low scores:

• cognitive, emotional or physical reasons for their inability to achieve.

Tuesday May 21, 2013

Joel Westheimer weighs in on EQAO testing

Not being able to sleep, coming home in tears... For some kids, standardized tests are a major source of stress. So some parents keep their children home on test day. CBC education columnist Joel Westheimer was interviewed about his take on the controversial tests.

TO LISTEN, CLICK HERE: http://goo.gl/o53Bm

Joel Westheimer

University Research Chair and Professor

University of Ottawa / Faculty of Education (Ontario)

Education columnist, CBC Ottawa Morning

Executive director, DemocraticDialogue

joelwestheimer@mac.com

Many teachers have reservations about the wide-scale use of standardized tests. But the government mandates their use across Ontario in grades 3, 6, and 9 to test all children's literacy and numeracy. Teachers feel that classroom-based assessment by teachers is the best source of information about student learning.

Teaching 'New' Math

Math classes across Ontario are adding exercises that emphasise real life situations and subtracting time memorizing times-tables.  The "New Math" methodology is dividing parents.  CBO education columnist, Joel Westheimer walks Robyn through the pluses and minuses of the new technique.

TO LISTEN CLICK HERE: http://goo.gl/fCh0x