Re: Is anyone else disappointed with Harry?



"Dave Hinz" <DaveHinz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3kssraF102q4hU3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 15:48:26 -0400, TakenEvent
<lightbulbsnickety@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >
> > "Dave Hinz" <DaveHinz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:3kspkeFvou75U2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>
> >> (shrug) Our experience differs profoundly. Maybe since most of my
> >> exposure has been to standardized tests in a professional or technical
> >> context, rather than a purely academentia context? Techies tend to
> >> write better tests than people who have never been in the real world.
>
> > Yes, I was speaking of the standardized tests given in elementary
school,
> > junior high, and high school.
>
> Well, even the ACT and SAT weren't _bad_ tests, (mumble) years ago when
> I took them.
>
> >> I don't think anyone ever claimed that had happened. But "not perfect"
> >> isn't a reason to dismiss them all, universally, either.
>
> > I don't think that the standardized tests I took in school were of any
> > value. I'll submit that there may be properly worded tests out there,
but I
> > haven't seen any that didn't have at least a couple questions that
didn't
> > make clear what they were asking.
>
> So you're saying the entire method of standardized testing is bad,
> because in your experience, none of the test you've taken have been
> perfect.

I'm saying that standardized testing is inherently flawed, yes. Sometimes
tests are written in such a way that the flaws affect some people more than
others, and perhaps you've come across tests that have been refined to near
perfection. I've been close to a number of people with learning and reading
disabilities. They know the material, but can't perform well on the
standardized tests, which don't tend to allow re-takes.

>
> > Another one of my favorite critiques of
> > standardized tests is that sometimes there are questions where one knows
> > what answer they expect, but the question is written so poorly one just
> > wants to give a different answer out of spite.
>
> That's known as a bad question. A good test-taker knows how to deal
> with those. Proving a point by giving the answer they don't want isn't
> going to get you anywhere. Sometimes the lesson is that you give them
> the answer they want, rather than the right answer...
>
> ...Just like in real life.
>

I'm not one to cut my nose off to spite my face. I'm glad you've had good
experiences with standardized tests.



.

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