Health Benefits Of Standardized Testing Research
There has been a long-drawn-out debate about the benefits of testing in education. Despite the conflicting data, I believe that testing is beneficial to students. In comparison to other countries, the United States scores remarkably lower worldwide than one might expect. Education is an intrinsic part of being successful. I believe that testing course material is beneficial to students because frequent testing can improve learning, it aids in later retention of the information, and improves meta-cognitive monitoring.
Since the ratification of No Child Left Behind in 2002, teachers' and parents' antithesis of mandated testing for every child, every year, from grades three through eight has exacerbated. Undeterred by the contention, researchers …show more content…
Scientific studies have found that magnetic resonance imaging of the brain concede the neural mechanism behind the retrieval practice. In other words, these regions of the brains are associated with the consolidation and stabilization of memories (Paul 2015). Meaning the more active these areas are while initializing the memory, the better the recall is in the future. Researchers have theorized that while sifting through our mind for one piece of information, we unconsciously call up associated memories as well, thus strengthening them through each retrieval process. This also helps students prevent confusing the material they are currently learning from what they have already learned, which helps prepare students minds absorb material more thoroughly when they encounter it again. Scientists call this phenomenon "test-potentiated learning" (Paul …show more content…
Opponents are suggesting that the tests provided are misaligned with college and career goals, as well as not addressing students' mastery of skills. One study found that eighth graders spent a total of 4.22 school days taking mandatory tests, not including tests given by teachers to gauge students’ progress (Superville 2015).
While I agree that standardized testing is not beneficial to students, the counterargument only addresses standardized testing, which is another entity entirely. Standardized tests are different from tests created by teachers because they are so far removed from the curriculum that it's not realistic to hold teachers and students accountable for the results. There are many external factors that could lead to a student performing poorly on a standardized test, such as current family situation or health impairments.
In conclusion, under the right circumstances, testing can be beneficial to students. When a teacher can control the climate of learning, they can encourage more mindful learning. When students employ the retrieval practice with meta-cognitive learning, they can pave the path for educational success by using frequent testing to improve learning and retain the information in the
Since the ratification of No Child Left Behind in 2002, teachers' and parents' antithesis of mandated testing for every child, every year, from grades three through eight has exacerbated. Undeterred by the contention, researchers …show more content…
Scientific studies have found that magnetic resonance imaging of the brain concede the neural mechanism behind the retrieval practice. In other words, these regions of the brains are associated with the consolidation and stabilization of memories (Paul 2015). Meaning the more active these areas are while initializing the memory, the better the recall is in the future. Researchers have theorized that while sifting through our mind for one piece of information, we unconsciously call up associated memories as well, thus strengthening them through each retrieval process. This also helps students prevent confusing the material they are currently learning from what they have already learned, which helps prepare students minds absorb material more thoroughly when they encounter it again. Scientists call this phenomenon "test-potentiated learning" (Paul …show more content…
Opponents are suggesting that the tests provided are misaligned with college and career goals, as well as not addressing students' mastery of skills. One study found that eighth graders spent a total of 4.22 school days taking mandatory tests, not including tests given by teachers to gauge students’ progress (Superville 2015).
While I agree that standardized testing is not beneficial to students, the counterargument only addresses standardized testing, which is another entity entirely. Standardized tests are different from tests created by teachers because they are so far removed from the curriculum that it's not realistic to hold teachers and students accountable for the results. There are many external factors that could lead to a student performing poorly on a standardized test, such as current family situation or health impairments.
In conclusion, under the right circumstances, testing can be beneficial to students. When a teacher can control the climate of learning, they can encourage more mindful learning. When students employ the retrieval practice with meta-cognitive learning, they can pave the path for educational success by using frequent testing to improve learning and retain the information in the