Posted on 12/03/2021 8:13:30 AM PST by karpov
Given the enormity of the public and private investment in US higher education, of course we should evaluate its effectiveness. But, how?
It is claimed that over 200 higher education institutions administer the one-size-fits-all Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA). When administered pre-post—that is, near the beginning and then again near the end of a student’s program—the difference in scores on equivalent forms of the same test (i.e., the “gain score”) represents how much students have learned in that program. Or does it?
Everyone knows that any one test cannot be valid in all contexts. Administering an advanced calculus exam to kindergarteners would not tell us much, for example, nor would administering it as a college exit exam for art majors. College students study a wide variety of topics.
According to the CLA’s owner, the Council for Aid to Education (CAE),
One of the unique features of CLA+ is that no prior knowledge of any specific content area is necessary in order to perform well on the assessment.
Given that much of a student’s time in college is devoted to accumulating knowledge of specific content, this seems problematic. And according to cognitive scientists, it is. “Higher-order” skills, such as lateral thinking and experimentation, depend on the accumulation of a critical mass of knowledge. Content-free or generic skills do not exist.
If not from cognitive scientists, then, where does the belief in generic skills come from? Ed schools. The cynic in me wants to classify this as another attempt by US educators to hide from meaningful measurement. One of them might say, however, that factual content is readily available just a mouse click away on the internet. Such is true, but only in isolated, disaggregated forms.
(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...
Just as valid as the Entrance exams.....................
What do ypu think a thesis or dissertation defense is?
A licensing exam for a professional degree is the closest thing I’ve seen for undergraduate degrees. But even then (like in my field), you can’t even qualify to sit for the exams without having at least 3-4 years of work experience after graduation.
Exit exam question #666:
What is the best way to achieve equity in society?
A. The final solution for white people.
B. The final solution for Asian people.
C. The final solution for Trump supporters.
D. All of the above.
I don’t know nuffn.
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