One of the final questions that I will address that was raised during our Parents Information Evening was around NAPLAN and students participating in formal exams.
Our students will sit exams when appropriate and for the right reasons. Our students will not sit exams just because. When our students sit tests, it will be relevant, connected to assessment and be based on informing students, teachers and parents of progress, rather than ranking. Our academic program is based on students accepting responsibility for their learning. Any exams students sit will be based on skills and content learnt over time, not based on knowledge that needs to be learned for a test and then promptly forgotten. Our teachers are encouraging our students to develop a deep connection with the skills and content they are learning so it stays with them and not to be forgotten the following term. Our teachers are making an effort to develop a Project Based Curriculum which connects subjects, skills and concepts so that our students can make connections between what they are learning. We are confident that our approach will support students when the time comes to sit an exam and that their confidence in themselves and ability will minimise the usual stress and anxiety associated with exams. Exam preparation is an interesting discussion, and even more so interesting when presented with a choice.
This past week, parents of students in Years 5, 7 and 9 ail have received information regarding their child’s participation in the NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN is the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy and it started in 2008. The purpose of NAPLAN is to identify students and colleges that are falling behind the National average in the basics of reading, writing and numeracy and therefore these colleges and students could be offered the help they need. It also allows colleges to identify areas of improvement and also by publishing colleges results, colleges are accountable for the performance of their students. When NAPALN is used in the way it was intended, it is is excellent form of assessment. There are many aspects to be considered if you are debating whether your child should sit NAPLAN or not.
On the NAPLAN website, www.nap.edu.au the following question is asked and answered:-
Can my child be prepared for the NAPLAN tests?
NAPLAN is not a test of content. Instead, it tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the college curriculum. Teachers will ensure that students are familiar with the test formats and will provide appropriate support and guidance. Excessive preparation is not useful and can lead to unnecessary anxiety. If you have any questions about your child’s preparation for NAPLAN, you are encouraged to make a time to speak with their teacher. NAPLAN tests are constructed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate skills they have learned over time through the college curriculum, and NAPLAN test days should be treated as just another routine event on the college calendar. The best way you can help your child prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their college program, and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day.
The most Interesting point for me in the above response, “that NAPLAN tests skills that are developed over time through the college curriculum”. If a student has developed skills over time, do they need 6 weeks of intense preparation? Is preparation the same as learning? By preparing intensely for NAPLAN, are the results authentic? Does publishing college results put more pressure on teachers, who in turn transfer this pressure onto students to perform well in the test? What happens to the delivery of the curriculum when countless hours are spent on preparing for a test? Do the children enjoy it both the preparation and the test?
Students at Central Coast Sports College will not spend hours preparing for NAPLAN. If they are sitting NAPLAN, they will be doing so on the premise that NAPLAN is testing skills that students have developed over time. This would suggest that students practice these skills daily, applying and developing learnt skills to the new content they are learning. We would be doing those students who have chosen to sit NAPLAN a disservice if we did not give them the opportunity to see a practice paper so that they have an idea of the format of the test, however it does not make for an exciting college day when hours are devoted to practising skills in numeracy and literacy for a test. Knowing this, it is quite interesting to hear the countless weeks and hours some colleges devote to preparing their students for NAPLAN as well as dozens of websites and tutoring centres dedicated to helping kids ‘do better’ on NAPLAN.
There was an interesting article in the SMH a while back by Justin Coulson, a Parenting expert and lecturer at the University of Wollongong. His article focused on his reasons as to why his children will not be sitting the NAPLAN tests. He wrote,
“In terms of individual students’ learning, NAPLAN is next to useless. Individual student data has a short shelf life. NAPLAN data takes so long to come back to a teacher that it loses any potential value it had in regards to individuals. It is a poor teacher that has to rely on NAPLAN to tell them what students in their care can and cannot do. As a means of assessing student understanding, it is a blunt instrument.
? NAPLAN will not tell us anything about student achievement. Answers are graded by a computer. Written answers are graded by ”independent examiners” who subjectively review hundreds of responses.
? NAPLAN tells us nothing about teacher effectiveness. Great teachers create a positive environment and promote curiosity, a love of learning, participation, co-operation and leadership. NAPLAN does not tell us about these things.
? NAPLAN won’t improve your child’s literacy, despite claims to the contrary. Teaching children to colour in bubbles does not teach kids to do anything but shade bubbles. Children become literate and engaged in learning when reading is for reading’s sake and writing is meaningful to the person doing the writing. NAPLAN reading and writing offers little intrinsic meaning to anyone, particularly the student.
? NAPLAN will not create a positive and respectful college climate. It is particularly damaging to children with disabilities, children whose first language is not English and children from low-income families. NAPLAN tells us even less about college quality. Scores on a high-stakes standardised test tell us nothing about the social cohesion, morale of teachers and students, bullying, extra-curricular successes in sports, music, the arts and so on.”
It is important when an issue or topic is being debated, that both sides are presented, therefore, are also many positives to participating in NAPLAN including:-
* The test can find the areas students may require extra help with to develop literacy and numeracy skills.
* The test results will help teachers work out where students skills lie. The results will also assist teachers to see what aspects they have taught well and also show areas that require a specific focus or re-teaching. All teachers use the results of these tests.
* Teachers can use the results to develop an individual learning plan and goals for students to work towards.
* It helps our students to learn that during tests, the important thing is to stay focused and do your best within the time you have available.
Participating in NAPLAN should be a choice and one that we give to Central Coast Sports College parents. Before you make a decision, I urge you to do your research. Your decision needs to be informed and ultimately what is best for your child. Either way, Central Coast Sports College will support your decision and your child’s learning needs.
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