Questioning the value of standardized testing

Instructional designer and entrepreneur Koreen Olberish (thanks for the twitter feed - @KoreenOlbrish) has a solid post in her blog questioning the rising importance of standardized tests. Her thinking is complemented by DePaul University's move to make ACT and SAT tests an optional part of their admissions process next year. Today's Chronicle article reports that DePaul has found high school GPA to be as effective at predicting student success as the standardized tests.

Centers for Teaching Excellence

In the pass few days, Centers for Teaching Excellence (CTE) at the University of Illinois and Texas A&M have been getting my attention.

Last weekend, while at the Armory at the University of Illinois to watch our oldest daughter Lindsey (sophomore sprinter for DePaul University) compete in an indoor track meet, I noted the Armory is not only the winter home of Illini Track and Field but also the home for the university's Center for Teaching Excellence .

Today, Texas A& M University via twitter (@TAMUtalk) linked to a informative release on their Center for Teaching Excellence. Valuable points are made regarding the need to promote SoTL - the scholarship of teaching and learning and the necessity of matching faculty development with the learning outcomes of the students.

While universities have huge needs to constantly develop graduate assistants and new faculty, small colleges like Greenville College can also benefit from a structure promoting SoTL. Maybe we can make something like these CTEs a part of what we do.

Newsweek article on college assessment

A Newsweek article on...

EDUCATION

Standardized Tests in College?

Why U.S. universities are implementing a No Child Left Behind-style accountability program.