[Ohiogift] Test Me! Go Ahead!

[Will Fitzhugh]

Kids Know How to Game the System
by dianerav

A reader sent this comment:

Here is my take.  Our school in NYC used an online, computer based reading program for the first time last year.  Some of our students were clocked in as reading 600 articles and having their lexile scores increase by 4 grade levels.  At the end of the year, the representatives from the program came to the school and gave an assembly for all of the students who participated; giving out prizes and accolades to the most prolific readers.  One student in particular kept going up to the stage to receive accolade after accolade.  NYS’s ELA and Math scores recently came in, and guess what?—she did not show any growth from last year.

Here's the problem:  When I observed the students who were clocking in an inordinate number of articles, I noticed that they were just answering the questions in order to get the “rewards” that the system gave out.  I asked them why they weren’t reading the articles. Their response was that it was boring.  You see, it’s like a video game.  They are doing it for the rewards that the system produces; not for the enjoyment of reading.

 There is always room to game the system.  Ask any video game player about “cheats” and they will tell you.  Kids will always find a way to game the system.  Online publishers will always find ways to game the system as well.

dianerav | September 6, 2012 at 10:48 am | Categories: Accountability, Blended Learning, NYC,On-Line Education | URL: http://wp.me/p2odLa-1H7


-----------------
“Teach by Example”
Will Fitzhugh [founder]
The Concord Review [1987]
Ralph Waldo Emerson Prizes [1995]
National Writing Board [1998]
TCR Institute [2002]
730 Boston Post Road, Suite 24
Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776-3371 USA
978-443-0022; 800-331-5007
www.tcr.org; fitzhugh at tcr.org
Varsity Academics®
www.tcr.org/blog

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