The Standards Movement

Guided Response: Review several of your classmates’ posts, and respond with a minimum 150 words to at least two who discussed an advantage or disadvantage different from your own.  Elaborate on the relevance of their findings to the context of the standards movement.  Challenge your classmates by asking a question that may cause them to reevaluate or add components to their initial response

By: Steven

“National standards are intended to serve as frameworks that will assist state departments of education and local districts in organizing knowledge and skills into curricula. National standards do not define a national curriculum per se. They do, however, specify broad areas of agreement on content that all students are expected to be exposed to.” Hall, G.E., Quinn, L.F., & Gollnick, D.M. (2014). 

The advantages of national standards are all the student in the country are being taught the same information and teacher are being held accountable to ensure that the student knows the information by testing done. This information is kept up with by benchmarks that this is a necessary checkpoint for when the students have learned certain subject matter.  The testing can determine how many benchmarks are needed for that school.

            The disadvantages are import to consider with the test teacher sometimes focus only on testing and no other important skills that should be developed throughout a child’s education. The other common issue is students do not always take the test seriously and do not put forth their full effort and as a result, the test result is not accurate.

The field I am entering into is not tested but is required in most states to complete high school. Physical Education is required for in the state of Florida for the purpose of educating the student on nutrition and general health. This is the area I want to teach not only are you taking the time to educate the student but you are promoting a healthy lifestyle for them as well.  

Reference

Hall, G.E., Quinn, L.F., & Gollnick, D.M. (2014).  Introduction to Teaching: Making a difference in student learning.  Los Angeles: Sage Publishing.

By: Hanan

Standards and assessments are a way to understand where the strengths and weaknesses are in education. It also helps the parent understand their child’s progress in specific subjects, and the rating of schools. The scores of theses tests help teachers identify weaknesses and holds them accountable for the education of the children. “Performance based standards are designed to assure accountability and
improve schools through exerting top down control by holding students, teachers, schools, and districts accountable for the results of student achievement” (Hall, Quinn & Gollnick, 2014). 

An advantage of the standards movement is providing a reference for the parents and teachers in identifying where the focus needs to be in regards to each child. This helps the school and the families assist the children in the areas they are struggling with.

A disadvantage of standards movement is that not all children learn the same way or take tests the same way. Many children become nervous and anxious during tests, which can negatively reflect their scores. Another disadvantage is when new standards are introduced and children are expected to learn and pass these standards, but that is a challenge when teachers are learning the new material along with the children. An example of this is when Common Core was introduced, I recall my son’s math teacher struggling with the new material himself being an older teacher, yet he was expected to teach this new material to the students. Teachers need to be supported and trained in regards to new standards, so they can effectively teach the children.

Reference:

Hall, G.E., Quinn, L.F., & Gollnick, D.M. (2014).  Introduction to teaching: Making a difference in student learning.  
            Los Angeles: Sage Publishing.