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Currently policy directives for state and federally funded programs include the expectation that children’s educational skills and early learning will be assessed and evaluated. However, the role of testing and assessment of children ages birth to 8 years continues to be a hotly debated topic among teaching professionals and the general public. Policies directly influence early learning environments and what teachers do in them. As a result, educated individuals, such as early childhood development and education professionals, have a responsibility to evaluate policy directives and contribute to the development of policies that are appropriate for young children.

This assignment will guide you through the process of researching the issues being discussed in the debate about testing and assessment of young children. You will be expected to identify the prevailing perspectives involved in the debate, discuss and weigh the costs and benefits of each perspective, and using the setting of your current classroom as an example, describe how you will approach issues of testing and assessment as you student teach.

This assignment addresses an important requirement of the Writing Intensive Curriculum. It serves as a demonstration of your abilities to access scholarly resources, debate relevant issues, synthesize ideas, and apply appropriate practices in the early learning environment.

Please organize your research paper to follow the format described below, and be prepared to cite resources as you write your argument. Be sure to credit ideas, information, positions or points of view, as well as direct quotations. Use the guidelines of the American Psychological Association.

Research Question: What is the role of testing and assessment in early learning settings?

INTRODUCTION. Research, identify and introduce the prevailing points of view involved in the discussion. Frame the argument (~-1 pgs.).

Differences of the role of testing and assessment

(Get ready to write) Research the argument . Explore sources and read current and relevant articles. Here are some ideas to keep track of what you discover:

· Read each article, find the main ideas, and take notes to help remember the facts.

· Create an annotated bibliography. Record the full reference information for the source and make a bullet list of the main themes and arguments of the particular author.

· Make an “issue web”. Write the research question in the center of a large piece of paper. As you read, record the key points of the debate. Write the key points around the research question. Draw lines between connections and write in notes describing the links.

Now write the introduction to the argument. Introduce the topic. Explain what the controversy is about and describe why the topic is being debated. Define key terms, such as testing, assessment, and learning outcomes. Identify the primary themes being discussed, and clarify the sources, or who is arguing for what particular outcome. Remember to cite your sources.

DISCUSSION. Discuss and debate the various perspectives on testing and assessment.

(~3 pgs.).

(Get ready to write) Organize the debate. Organize what you have discovered in your research about the pros and cons of testing and assessment of young children. Here are some ideas to help you:

· Divide a piece of paper into two columns. On one column make a list of all the positive reasons to conduct testing and assessment that you have discovered from your research. In the other column list the negative reasons. Make a code to remember the reference for each.

· Do any themes describe both a positive and negative reason? For example, what might be positive for teachers might be negative for kids. Make a note of these ideas on the chart.

· Take a look at the negatives. Are there ways to address them to minimize the negative effects? Make notes of these ideas on the chart.

· Where would you establish a middle ground or balanced approach – a way to balance the positive and negative aspects?

· Think about how you would approach conducting assessments to maximize the positive benefits and minimize the negative aspects. What assessment approaches could you use? Who should do the assessment? How should the assessment findings be managed and used? What are the risks of conducting assessments that you cannot control? Make some notes about your approach.

Now write the discussion of the debate . Present the various points of view. Explain each perspective fully. Clarify what different sources agree on, and what they disagree on. Cite your sources. Clarify which points of view have greater support, and identify the sources of the support (Teachers? Parents? Policy makers? Funding agencies? Others?).

Remember that you probably have pre-existing opinions about this topic. In this area of your discussion you will want your opinions to be “invisible,” Instead you want to present the information objectively, and convince the reader that you are able to recognize that each side of the debate values young children. Work to create your most compelling argument for each point of view. Explain why each perspective has merits and draw-backs. Provide examples so the reader can be clear of what you are talking about.

APPLICATIONS. Describe how you will address the issues of concern through a balanced approach. (~2 pgs.).

(Get ready to write) Create a plan to address the situation. Reflect on the arguments you have just presented. Think about what is (or may be) mandated, and what teachers may have control over. Think about what you believe is the best way to address testing and assessment requirements when teaching young children. Organize your thoughts and make notes about the reasons you align with particular perspectives, or parts of different perspectives. Outline your plan.

Now write your application plan. Discuss your opinion about the argument and debate you have presented. Talk about how you believe it is best to conduct assessments, and what you would do in your early childhood classroom. How would you manage assessment: what would you do and what would children do? What would you do to make children (and parents) comfortable? How would you conduct the activities to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts on young children? How would you use the information learned through assessment to appropriately improve your teaching and share information with families?

SUMMARY & IMPLICATIONS. Briefly present the key points of the argument, the debate, and your suggested application plan. Offer ideas about what it means for teachers in the future. (Here brief & concise is best. Like an abstract, write ½-1pg).

(Get ready to write) Reflect and think ahead. Draft a few summary statements about each of the three previous sections. Condense your thoughts to 1-2 carefully crafted sentences for each that summarize the key points. Now think about what all of this means for educators in the future. Write down a few of your ideas.

Now write your summary Provide a brief recap of the key points of the argument, the debate, and your suggested plan of action to apply and address these issues in the classroom. Offer a few ideas about what this controversy means for teachers in the future: ways this controversy might evolve in the future; what teachers may need watch for or consider as they determine their teaching practices to address future evolutions of the testing and assessment debate; ways to address mandates while keeping teaching practices child-centered and developmentally appropriate.

REFERENCES. Compile a reference list for all citations in your document. Use APA (American Psychological Association) style.

For assistance with APA style, visit the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University at: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Research Perspectives: Role of Assessment in Early Childhood Education (Polished writing)

Total available points: 85