Various standardized tests are used across different states and grade levels. Schools and educators must prepare for student accommodations, testing security, and other related aspects. After 50 years of this approach, it is clear that there must be a better method. This suggests a shift away from high-stakes standardized testing toward competency-based evaluations, utilizing analytics to monitor student progress while ensuring privacy and security. One promising concept on the horizon is adaptive testing.
Many educators and policymakers advocate measuring student performance and accountability in K-12 education. However, are we truly addressing students' needs and outcomes under the current testing system? Or do the results come too late to make meaningful adjustments that benefit schools, educators, parents, and students?
Adaptive testing uses technology to tailor assessments to each student's ability level, providing a more accurate and efficient way to measure knowledge and skills. This technology can be used in K-12 education to create personalized learning experiences and improve student outcomes.
Dr. Nathan Thompson specializes in computerized adaptive testing. He focuses on using AI and software automation to enhance the work of psychometricians and has gained significant experience in software design and programming. Thompson’s research outlines that computerized adaptive testing, an AI-based method, can personalize assessments based on a test-taker's answers. It adjusts question difficulty: if a test-taker performs well, questions become harder; if not, they become easier. The test can end early once an accurate score is reached, making the process efficient, secure, and fair.
Some key aspects of adaptive testing in K-12 and adaptive tests allow for personalized assessments that adjust question difficulty based on student responses, ensuring appropriate challenges for each student. This approach makes assessments shorter and more efficient compared to traditional methods.
Adaptive tests focus on relevant questions and provide a more accurate measure of a student's abilities. They offer valuable data for teachers and administrators to inform instruction and track progress. Examples of computer-adaptive tests used in K-12 education include the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments and STAR tests.
Adaptive testing has several advantages. It accurately measures student abilities by adjusting question difficulty to individual skill levels. Typically, shorter and more efficient than traditional tests, adaptive assessments create personalized learning experiences and provide valuable data for teachers to track progress. They modify questions in real time: an incorrect answer leads to a more straightforward question, while a correct answer results in a more challenging one.
The primary goal is to accurately gauge a student's abilities, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement. This method helps teachers identify misconceptions and tailor their instruction. Computer-adaptive testing technology enhances the efficiency of this process for educators.
Implementing adaptive testing systems often requires a substantial initial investment. It is essential to ensure student data privacy when using these systems. Additionally, adaptive testing should be accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. Furthermore, teachers and administrators will need training to effectively use and interpret the data generated by adaptive testing systems.
In "Adaptive Assessment: What Possibilities Do You Have?" Ed Matthews notes that adaptive testing technology enhances efficiency and scalability compared to traditional methods. It allows for the creation of a large pool of digital questions and provides automatic scoring and analysis, offering immediate feedback to students and teachers. This feedback helps identify strengths and weaknesses, informs instructional decisions, and tracks student progress, leading to improved teaching and learning outcomes.
You cannot build a future with outdated methods. We are currently using a 20th-century measurement to evaluate a 21st-century learner. Standardized tests are often ineffective because they reduce complex subjects to a single score and do not fully assess student learning. They can also stress students and lead to a focus on test preparation that harms educational quality.
Adaptive testing improves K-12 assessments by personalizing the learning experience and accurately measuring student abilities. By using technology, educators can create efficient assessment practices that promote student growth. Tennessee should leverage this technology to tailor assessments for each student's skill level, providing a more precise evaluation of their knowledge. We need a state assessment system that accurately measures student learning more efficiently and effectively.
JC Bowman
Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee