When measuring a child's intelligence, you must look at the whole child and what he does over all in the school environment, not just on one test. Some children are very nervous when taking test, having not had enough sleep the night before or even may be having problems at home. Many children sometimes have to take the ACT or SAT test several times before getting the score they want, even though they may be an A student, but when it comes time to take these very important test they don't do well because they are worried that if they don't make the right score they may not get into the college they have been want to go to for some this may have been a dream their whole life and they feel if they don't do well on the test the school may not accept them.
"In 1905, France gave birth to what was fundamentally the first (successful) method of measuring intelligence. Following the need to establish specialist schools for children with learning difficulties, the French Government employed Alfred Binet to produce a system in which schools might distinguish between those who were intellectually challenged and those who were able. The method Alfred Binet delivered, along with the assistance of Theophile Simon, required children to complete simple exam in which they would copy shapes or patterns, name objects and follow straightforward instructions.The scoring of the test produces a number called the child's mental age. The mental age reflects the level at which the child performed on the test -- if the child performed at the level of the average ten-year-old, for example, then the child would be assigned a mental age of ten, regardless of the child's chronological age (physical age). One compares the child's mental age to his or her chronological age. If the mental age is the same as the chronological age, then the child is average. If the mental age is higher than the chronological age, then the child is mentally "advanced" or gifted. If the mental age is lower than the chronological age, then the child is mentally "retarded," or behind his or her peers in intellectual development." (www.news,2013)
Measuring intelligence a brief history retrieved on June 16, 2013 from http://www.test-iq.com/news/measuring-intelligence--a-brief-history/
Great post Joanne. I completely agree that a child can be an A student and still not pass the ACT or SAT. I personally know a friend who took the teacher certification test atleatt three times and has yet to pass it. But on the contrary, she was an all A student in our college courses. She would do assignments weeks in advance as opposed to myself who did them the week that they were due just becasue thats what worked best for me and I took the test and passes all parts of the test the first time. So assesments, in my opinion are not a good tool to measure learning.
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I think Alfred Binet's method of assessing children was age and developmental appropriate. What I did not read is how they measured a child's social emotional development. The child that is not able to interact with others comfortable will be facing a challenge given the assessment. I think one of the best ways to get a strong valiate skills score for a child would be to start with observation. When working with middle age children observations during lesson and indivdual work time will help the teacher plan for the child that may need additional intervention.
ReplyDeleteI agree standardize test may not be an accurate measurement of the child over intelligent. We must look at the whole child including how he behaves and interacts with others at school beside his ability to recall the subject of study.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, your post is on point, standardized text do not accurately measure a child, these test are standards set by what some believe all children should be able to perform at a certain level in order to move to the next level.Children can perform well in school but not well on test or the opposite. So what happens to those who do perform well on these test but cannot do well in school.
ReplyDeleteHello Joanne I would just like to say thank you for being a wonderful classmate and for all of your inputs on my blogs I hope you have great success in the future.
ReplyDelete"The soul is healed by being with children."-English Proverb
Jotaylor,
ReplyDeleteThanks you for sharing your professional ideas throughout the course. I very much enjoy reading your posts. I have learned a great deal from your ideas. I hope that you will continue to share your experiences.