Within the education systems across the world,
standardised tests establish an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) for the examinees. Tests
compare children and youth to their cohorts. A performance score may indicate how
that child preforms in comparison to 100 other children of the same age. A high
IQ score correlates with a high IQ score. However, many standardised tests are reflective
of measures that are specific to our culture. Standardised tests may be biased reflective
of culture, language, communication abilities, sex and race. They do not consider
societal or social economic factors.
Globally assessors recognise that standardised assessments
have biases. Modifications to some standardised tests reduce bias. An example
of bias can include a picture of a sled on a nonverbal test. This item would be
meaningful in North American or cold weather countries. In Africa, it may have
not meaning, whereas a picture of a Bambara (baby rattle) would not be accurately
labelled by most North American Children. English Language Learners (ELL) in North
America, should be engage in assessments that reflect their knowledge in heritage
language as well as English.
A test score that determines an IQ in the gifted, borderline or severe range, may help families and educators to determine the level of supports that are optimal for the child to reach their maximum potential. Locally, standardised intelligence or adaptive functioning assessments may be conducted by school systems on a three year basis. They identify level of intervention for children who require more targeted or intensive levels of support. Often, limited supports are for children who are determined to be int he gifted to average to low average range even when adaptive functin is determined to be an area of concern. It is anticipated that with universal strategies the capacity of the child will improve. Optimally, as the child develops, tests will be able to reflect areas of improvement and identify areas that continue to require more supports. We want to always consider a child’s education in respect to their future dreams and wishes.
There are other government directed assessments that are implemented to determine how well children are learning curriculum information. The results from these scores are also analysed in respect to teacher ability. These test score may not allocated an IQ score, but are attempts to reflect the child’s knowledge of local measures in comparison to cohorts within predetermined district. Test scores in high school dictate eligibility for post-secondary education.
A test score that determines an IQ in the gifted, borderline or severe range, may help families and educators to determine the level of supports that are optimal for the child to reach their maximum potential. Locally, standardised intelligence or adaptive functioning assessments may be conducted by school systems on a three year basis. They identify level of intervention for children who require more targeted or intensive levels of support. Often, limited supports are for children who are determined to be int he gifted to average to low average range even when adaptive functin is determined to be an area of concern. It is anticipated that with universal strategies the capacity of the child will improve. Optimally, as the child develops, tests will be able to reflect areas of improvement and identify areas that continue to require more supports. We want to always consider a child’s education in respect to their future dreams and wishes.
There are other government directed assessments that are implemented to determine how well children are learning curriculum information. The results from these scores are also analysed in respect to teacher ability. These test score may not allocated an IQ score, but are attempts to reflect the child’s knowledge of local measures in comparison to cohorts within predetermined district. Test scores in high school dictate eligibility for post-secondary education.
Standardised tests may be one factor in establishing an individual’s learning needs and strengths. Each child has strengths and weakness that influence the formation of their self-identity. There are many other measures that can reflect one’s intelligence. Emotional Intelligence or the ability to understand and connect with those around you is critical skills for individuals to have. Standardised IQ tests, only give us insight into a small part of that child. Standardised test do not tell us how many a friends a child has or how kind they are. We do not lean about the child’s special talents and interests.
Howard Gardner is one individual instrumental in identifying learning styles. There are many on-line questionnaires that can be completed to determine learning styles of students and adults. For young children, we complete observations and interview parents to establish the areas of dominance.
To
understand how to support the child that you work with, you must first
understand how you learn. For the most part, young children are tactile and
kinesthetic learners. It is our job to determine whether they understand better
with verbal feedback or visual cues. In the case of the latter, copying should
be encouraged. Understanding how others learn allows us to make accommodations
for that learning style.
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Multiple Intelligence Assessment. Retrieved from:
Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences. Retrieved from:
Quiz: what’s Your learning Style? – Edutopia. Retrieved
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Thanks for your post and insight into testing intelligence. Thank you for including Gardner's styles of learning. I think that this is very important when testing children, because not all children learn the same, therefore we can not assess them in the same way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for you comments Felecia.
DeleteBest regards, Barb