Testing for Intelligence?
Taking a holistic approach to assess children is the wisest thing to do. This approach will help us to understand the uniqueness of each child and the way they learn. There are some children who will excel at learning mathematics while others are excellent at literacy, liberal arts and science among other things.
At the early childhood level, the administrators and teachers are responsible for finding out too which intelligences are most incorporated by students to make learning more meaningful. Therefore, they will need to be cognizant of and be able to evaluate each child’s growth over a period of time according to their biosocial development, cognitive development and their psychosocial development.
If all these areas of developments are to be tested, then all persons involved in these developmental stages of the child will need the necessary resources, facilities, time and personnel to help the student to learn so that when they are tested no child will be lost. This idea is clearly supported by (Berger, 2009 p.325) who states that “like any other psychological test, an IQ test is a snapshot, providing a static, framed view of a dynamic, ever-developing brain at work” (Berger, 2009). She (Berger, 2009 p.326) also stresses from (Williams et al, 2006) that “if intelligence is a multifaceted jewel, then schools need to expand their curricula and tests, so that every child can shine”(Berger,2009).
In Jamaica, a child’s intelligence is measured throughout the first six years after they have started the 1st grade via a series of tests that are done in order to assess the children’s skills and abilities.
The grader 6 Achievement Test, more popularly known as GSAT, is highly important because children are placed in High Schools depending on their performance on those examinations. Please click on the following link provided to read more on the Jamaican early childhood education/testing policy. http://www.my-island-jamaica.com/education_in_jamaica.html
References
Berger, K. (2009). The developing person through childhood. New York NY: Worth Publishers
Simmons. D(2007-2012). An overview of education in Jamaica. http://www.my-island-jamaica.com/education_in_jamaica.html
Sharon, like Jamaica, my country has an ongoing assessment in place, from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The only difference is that, we are still using the Common Entrance Examination to gain entry into secondary schools.
ReplyDeleteKindergarten does a Baseline test in the first semester, to see how much of the skills are present, emerging, absent,etc. At the end of the school year, this test will be re administered. When these children get to Grade 2, they will be given another assessment from the Ministry of Education. On arrival in Grade 4, another assessment will be given by the Ministry of Education, and when the children get to Grade 6, it is the time for the Common Entrance Examination, which determines which school each child will attend. The children who do extremely well , will attend the school of their choice, that applies to the first five hundred children. The Ministry of Education will place the remaining children in schools. Sometimes parents do not like some of the schools their children are placed, so I often tell them it does not matter which secondary school the children attend, all they have to do is, apply themselves. Some children who did not meet the required pass mark to enter the secondary school, are still placed into secondary schools, due to the Education Revolution.
I think using the ongoing assessment is good, since it gives an idea as to the level the child is at. However, using it to place children into secondary schools, could have its bias, since a child might not be placed in one of the prestigious schools he/she wants to attend.
Sharon- I enjoyed reading your post; on-going assessment surely seems to be an excellent way to truly measure a child's growth. Only by knowing where the child "began" can we really assess what the child has learned. Additionally, by comparing these individualized assessments within each classroom, teachers will be able to see the overall strengths and areas for improvement in their classes and plan accordingly. -Katelyn
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I think that it is a great idea to assess children over an expanded period of time.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post. I am also in total agreement about on going assessments. This helps to see how the child progressed and focuses on areas of concern in their own learning.
ReplyDeleteSharon- I am commenting on your blog for our last blog assignment this week! =) I wanted to wish you the best in your future endeavors! It was a pleasure reading your blog posts throughout this course. I applaud you for taking the initiative to better yourself through pursing your masters and taking on a role to help children in whatever part you play in the early childhood field! Keep up the great work! Hope to meet you in another class in the future! =)
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Jessica Gleadall