Instigator / Pro
7
1420
rating
398
debates
44.1%
won
Topic
#4855
I'm Pro. You choose the topic
Status
Finished
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
Winner & statistics
After 1 vote and with 4 points ahead, the winner is...
Mall
Parameters
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Rated
- Number of rounds
- 4
- Time for argument
- One week
- Max argument characters
- 30,000
- Voting period
- One month
- Point system
- Multiple criterions
- Voting system
- Open
- Minimal rating
- None
Contender / Con
3
1524
rating
54
debates
74.07%
won
Description
Disclaimer : Regardless of the setup for voting win or lose, The aim of this interaction, Is for those that view it, Learn and or take away anything that will amount to any constructive value ultimately. So that counts as anything that'll cause one to reconsider an idea, Understand a subject better, Help build a greater wealth of knowledge getting closer to truth. When either of us has accomplished that with any individual here, That's who the victor of the debate becomes.
Please send a message to me on the topic so I can start the first round with a full introduction.
Round 1
I'll preface the topic with the following communication:
"Mall
8/19/2023, 6:29:00 AM
There's some confusion. In the comments you're saying I'm arguing the opposite of what you're saying in this message. Do you want me to just a case for both sides and you just critique and question them?
I can make a case for both ."
"Bella3sp
8/19/2023, 12:41:23 PM
In the comments is what I mean't. As you caught me rushing to get the topic to you and I ended up messing up in the entirety of the messages.. However, if you want, you can do both."
Topic: Standardized testing should be abolished
Upon using Google search engine, standardized testing is the following:
"A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner."
Here is some information about the advantages and disadvantages from vitanna.org
"What Are the Advantages of Standardized Testing?
1. It has a positive impact on student achievement.
According to a review of testing research that has been conducted over the past century, over 90% of students have found that standardized tests have a positive effect on their achievement. Students feel better about their ability to comprehend and know subject materials that are presented on a standardized test. Even if a perfect score isn’t achieved, knowing where a student stands helps them be able to address learning deficits.
2. It is a reliable and objective measurement of achievement.
Standardized tests allow for a reliable measurement of student success that isn’t influenced by local factors. Local school districts and teachers may have a vested interest in the outcomes of testing and the desire to produce a favorable result can create inaccurate test results. Because standardized tests are graded by computers, they are not as subject to human bias or subjectivity, which makes them a more accurate reflection of student success.
3. Standardized tests allow for equal and equivalent content for all students.
This means a complete evaluation of students from an equal perspective can be obtained. Using alternate tests or exempting children from taking a standardized test creates unequal systems, which then creates one group of students who is accountable to their results and another group of students that is unaccountable. It is a system that looks at every child through equal eyes.
4. A standardized test teaches students prioritization.
Standardized testing covers core subject materials that students need for success in other subject areas. Without reading, for example, it would be difficult to learn how to write properly. Without mathematics, it would be difficult to pursue scientific concepts. The goal of a standardized test is to cover core subject materials that will help students excel in other related subjects, giving them the chance to master core curriculum items so they can move on to correlating subjects with greater ease.
5. It allows school districts to discover their good teachers.
Good teachers understand that test preparation drills and specific core instructions to “teach to a test” are not the best way to encourage learning. Repetition does not produce test score gains, but teaching a curriculum that allows students to explore a subject according to their interests, with teacher guidance, will do so. Test-taking skills and memorization do not promote understanding and districts which take these actions continually show low overall standardized testing scores.
What Are the Disadvantages of Standardized Testing?
1. It has not had a positive impact on student education.
Since 2002, when the United States added more emphasis to standardized testing, it has dropped in global education rankings. From 2002-2009, the US went from being ranked 18th in the world in mathematic to being ranked 31st in the world. The rankings in science also dropped in a similar way, while reading comprehension remained largely unchanged. According to the National Research Council, even incentive programs tied to standardized testing results are not working to improve student comprehension, understanding, and knowledge.
2. Standardized testing can be predictable.
Students who are aware of patterns can determine what the answers to a standardized test could be by only knowing a handful of answers with certainty. This predictability reflects the natural human bias that occurs in every action or reaction we have in any endeavor. It also means test scores can be high without reflecting student understanding. Brookings found that up to 80% of test score improvements in test scores can have nothing to do with long-term learning changes.
3. They assume that all students start from the same point of understanding.
Standardized tests may allow for a direct comparison of data, but they do not account for differences in the students who are taking the tests. In the US, standardized tests could be considered discriminatory in some regions because they assume that the student is a first-language English speaker. Students who have special needs, learning disabilities, or have other challenges which are addressed by an Individualized Education Plan may also be at a disadvantage when taking a standardized test compared to those who do not have those concerns.
4. Standardized tests only look at raw comprehension data.
Students learn in a variety of ways. People have many different strengths that may not be reflected in the context of a standardized test. Traits like creativity, enthusiasm, empathy, curiosity, or resourcefulness cannot be tracked by these tests, even though they are highly desirable traits in modern careers. A standardized test could determine the knowledge a student has about musical theory, but it cannot judge the quality of a composition that a student might create.
5. Teacher evaluations have been tied to standardized test results.
Many teachers are being evaluated on the work that their students do on a standardized test. Based on the classroom grades achieved, a teacher might receive a raise or be fired from their job. This creates a host of learning problems. For starters, only the students who are performing poorly on testing simulations receive a majority of the attention from the teacher, leaving good students to fend for themselves. Teachers then begin to “teach to the test” instead of teaching subject materials to obtain needed results. This creates a reduction of higher-order thinking, reduces complex assignments, and prevents cognitive understanding.
6. Standardized tests narrow the curriculum.
According to the Center on Education Policy, from 2001-2007, school districts in the United States reduced the amount of time spent on social studies, creative subjects, and science by over 40%. This results in the average student losing more than 2 hours of instruction time in these areas so that they can focus on subjects that are on standardized tests, such as reading and math.
7. More time is spent on test preparation instead of actual learning.
Many school districts, especially those with lower test scores, spend more classroom time on test preparation than learning the curriculum. In 2010, New York City took the extraordinary measure of including 2.5-hour test preparation sessions on scheduled school vacation days.
The advantages and disadvantages of standardized testing show that it can be a useful tool for student evaluation, but only when it is used correctly. Like any system, it can be abused by those who are looking for shortcuts. That is why each key point must be carefully considered before implementing or making changes to a plan of standardized testing."
In spite of there being higher disadvantages or more disadvantages than advantages according to vitanna.org, a person can make a case either way from their bias overall.
I've never looked at or seen any controversy in this topic. I take a neutral stance or that is to say the logical side of this is neutral.
I would just say what should be abolished and what should not be logically speaking because of cause and effect, those that make the case on the positive side for standardized testing most likely perhaps based on the advantages mentioned here that decide to work politically (cause) to end up legislating(effect) to be no more of this kind of testing, should be abolished as a wrecking ball(cause) to a demolished build (effect).
Not much further you can go with it. Really to each its own based on education objectives. We can pick apart each pro and see one of them can truly outweigh several cons put together.
Time for critical thinking and thought processing.
Forfeited
Round 2
Much gratitude to you for being able to actually give me the topic to start the debate. Looks like you were one if not the only that could do that.
Forfeited
Round 3
I agree, a take it or leave it topic. Never did find much controversy in it.
I concede- meant to say this last week. I'm trying to get all current debates done and over with as im heading off for awhile.
My bad.
Round 4
Very well all well and good.
...
I do not understand why a debater would choose to forfeit.
Already discussed this with Mall.
But the topic is: Standardized testing should not be abolished.
Basically..
Pro: Standarized testing should not be abolished.
Con: Standardarized testing should be abolished.
What topic did you choose?
Disclaimer : Regardless of the setup for voting win or lose, The aim of this interaction, Is for those that view it, Learn and or take away anything that will amount to any constructive value ultimately. So that counts as anything that'll cause one to reconsider an idea, Understand a subject better, Help build a greater wealth of knowledge getting closer to truth. When either of us has accomplished that with any individual here, That's who the victor of the debate becomes.
Maybe better make it so that you choose side while they choose topic.
They can pick unwinnable topics, you know.