Climbing Back into a Canoe in Deep Water

Abstract

Academic measurement, including formative and summative testing, but especially standardized testing, in public schools is often considered the acid test of students’ skill development by provincial educational governing bodies. The article examines the characteristics and impacts of standardized tests. The article suggests that some degree of creative problem solving is necessary to deal with the failures. In the article, the author identifies many skills schools never seem to test and ask why from a critical perspective. Finally, she suggests ways teachers might counter the negative effects of what is missing from academic assessments.