Re: [LM_NET] rigging AR

[Sara Ralph <bibliophile26@YAHOO.COM>]

I disagree...just because there is a bad apple in the cart, doesn't mean we need to 
throw away the entire cart.

Unfortunately, some students (and parents) are dishonest; I would bet money that if 
this student is cheating at AR, he/she is cheating at other things as well.

We have prizes at the end of the year for points.  If a student is caught 
"cheating," they are simply removed from the program and no longer participate.  
Instances are rare (it has been three years since the last one) and our reading 
instruction does not depend heavily on AR; in fact, our teachers' instruction in 
reading focuses more on questions that promote higher level thinking (rather than 
the basic comprehension questions found on AR quizzes (at least the reading 
practice ones).  However, students (esp. beginning readers) feel good about 
themselves when they do well on AR (without any prize or incentive).

Sara Ralph, librarian
Asheboro, NC




________________________________
From: Barbara Braxton <barbara.288@BIGPOND.COM>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Wed, April 21, 2010 5:20:45 PM
Subject: Re: rigging AR

Okay, so I am going to open a can of worms again but ... 

What is the problem with students rigging their results in whatever way
UNLESS...

AR points (and the like) are such an integral part of a school's assessment
program that students and parents see these as the most important indicators
of a student's reading ability.

And if that is the case, why is this so?  What does it say about the depth
of a school's reading program and its assessment?  What does it say about
the quality of the child's learning?  What does it say about the quality of
the teaching?  If a child is not yet reading independently, how can specific
feedback that focuses on personalised strategies be offered?

I know AR is not meant to be used in this way but it is, and if I were in
charge of its administration in a school where students felt compelled to be
devious in order to gain points, then I would be looking at the school's
philosophy to identify why this is so.  In this particular case, I don't
think that it is solely a parent issue.  If a school's assessment program
(and the subsequent impacts on the student)  is open to external
manipulation by those with the money, inclination or opportunity then I
believe it is the program that needs to be reviewed.
Barbara


Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
COOMA NSW 2630
E.barbara.288@bigpond.com
Together, we learn from each other

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