Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Week 13: Are We There Yet?

Remember 2:30 class:  I have a meeting in San Diego Thursday.  I may not be in class by 2:30 (but I'll try). You can work on your movies, journals, and take a look at the emerging technology instructions & rubric (we will also cover together) in webCT.  If you are caught up, it would be okay to come to class @ 3.

Everything except the wiki has been graded (I think).  Journal 6-10 is due April 22 (tonight!!).  Don't forget: if the assignment is not completed on time, you cannot receive extra credit for journal 10.

Tonight:  We will finish the movies (remember to include data in your PSA & please bring HEADPHONES) & checklists, discuss the emerging technology assignment (with help on how to embed everything on your blog), and discuss the remaining narratives for TaskStream.  As I have asked the last few weeks, I want you to start a fresh Google Doc to share with me and Mark so you can receive some early feedback on NETS III, IV, & V. We will formalize this tonight.

This Week's Question:  Should the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) be required to graduate high school?

35 comments:

  1. I personally don't have a problem with the California High School Exit Exam being required to graduate high school. So yes, I do think the CAHSEE should be required to graduate high school.

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  2. Personlly I feel that it should be a requirement to exit high school because this is a basic knowledge test and if you can pass it then it is going to be rough in the real world. It's not that hard of a test so therefore everyone should be able to pass is before exiting high school.

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  3. Yes, the exam should be required to graduate. At almost 18 years of age, one last high school exam won't kill you. Then, maybe you can positively look forward to the challenging pursuits that lie ahead.

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  4. Yes, I think that the CAHSEE should be a requirement to graduate high school. It is a basic knowledge test and I think all students should leave high school with that knowledge or life will be rough. That being said I also think it should be modified for students with special needs.

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  5. YES! I believe that if a student can't pass the CAHSEE as a sophomore, then this will send the message that an intervention is needed. The student should get extra help so that when they graduate they'll know they have the necessray skilss to move forward.

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  6. Yes, we definitely need a way to measure whether students are meeting CA standards, so I am for the exam. However, there has been some controversy about CAHSEE, mainly that students from disadvantaged areas don't have as high of a passing rate. My solution would be to take those measurable results and give extra attention to the districts that need it.

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  7. One last comment: students with special needs DO receive special accomodations for this exit exam.

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  8. Yes I do, I you cannot pass the test how are you going to function in life.

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  9. Yes I do think the CAHSEE Exam should be required. Everyone talks about how these tests are biased and not a true test of intelligence, but they have to be tested on something right? Otherwise how will the state know students progress...

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  10. Yes, we need to have standards. Should everything revolve around test scores as they do right now? No, but we do need to keep standards for our high school students

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  11. i think it i important to have these exams to see how well our students are doing academically if they dont pass the exam they should be able to retake it various times until they pass it.

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  12. I think we should have it. It is a good way to see who is getting the standards taught and how effective it is. It is also good to see how it compares between socio-economic factors.

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  13. Yes. It is a basic skills test so that is the least that students should know when they graduate high school.

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  14. I think the CAHSEE is a good requirement to be able to graduate high school. By passing the CAHSEE you have demonstrated that you know basic high school math and english that you will need to function in society anyways.

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  15. Yes, I do feel the CAHSEE should be a requirement to graduate high school. However, I feel you should be able to take it as many times until you pass it. For those who English is not their first language, may have a difficulty with passing this because of that.

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  16. I dare to say NO. All this test shows is that some students are able to absorb large amounts of data in a go and then regurgitate it. Yes having a core amount of knowledge that a student carries with them into the world is important but that can be measured in other ways. I would prefer to see students present a portfolio of their accomplishments. Success in the real world has more to do with putting things together and accomplishing complex projects than spewing tid bits of information.


    I can see why tax payers would like to see a standardized for passing High School. It, in theory, gives a way to measure the effectiveness of public education. My question is, "What happens to the students who never pass the exam?"

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  17. I think it is necessary to have a standardized test in order to graduate high school because it ensures that everyone is at least at a certain level when it pertains to academics and is ready to take on what is ahead on their future.

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  18. yes although I thought it was silly it is very important to make sure that an individual is ready for college.

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  19. I think it's okay to have some type of testing involved to graduate - however pointless and arbitrary it may seem. Though I would argue for other provisions for the non-test inclined. I would hate to have my life depending on how I perform for a certain test.. oh wait, it already does.

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  20. I believe yes, it is a good way for students to showcase the things they've learned and show they can function under pressure.

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  21. I never had to take the CAHSEE because I went to a private high school. However, I had to complete a senior project that was the school's equivalent to the senior exam. The project took a great deal of preparation throughout the school year and incorporated information and knowledge gained over the four years of high school. I felt that the senior project was a great way to evaluate the level of knowledge and performance of each senior, taking into consideration that each student learns differently and expresses that knowledge in my ways.

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  22. Coming from the perspective of someone who took the CAHSEE, I don't agree with it being used to grant or deny someone a high school diploma.

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  23. I don't really agree with high stakes testing in general, so I fall into the don't agree with the CAHSEE camp. Teachers who see student work and progress should be given tools to deliver fair and holistic assessments and those assessments should be used to determine if a student is ready to graduate high school.

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  24. Amanda's comments are thought provoking...perhaps if a student could not pass this, but was willing to show competency with some type of portfolio, that could suffice?

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  25. I think that there should be some sort of final assessment for a student to graduate high school. However, I don't think that a one size fits all standardized test should be that tool. There should me a variety of methods to assess if a student has adequate knowledge in order to recieve their diploma.

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  26. Yes i think it should but also think it can or should be accomodated to fit the way students learn by having it done to fit a kids needs. Like if their a visual learner then use technology to explain the questions in a visual manner and maybe give some more time or in a setting that best suits them, because a lot of people are not test takers but know the subject to they need to find ways to allow those teenagers to pass by letting them feel comfortable when testing.

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  27. No, I don't think students should have to take that rigorous test to pass high school at the end of the year. If anything, there should be an similar test required from 11th to 12th to make sure they are on the right path and if they fail they either have to take an extra class in 12th grade all year to catch up or repeat 11th grade. It just seems too late and after the fact to wait until the end of 12th grade.

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  28. No I do not think that the CAHSEE should be required to graduate from high school. The test does not access all subject matter and it is not accurately access the potential of a person. I think it is like all the test that are required by the No Child Left Behind law.

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  29. I feel that the exam is necessary. It put some legitimacy behind a high school diploma. I agree that it is not a perfect exam, no standardized test could be. But is there a better way to evaluate a student's overall academic ability?

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  30. No, I don't think that students should be required to take the CAHSEE. I do not feel that the exam test students for all academic potentials including art, music among others. I feel that students should be knowledgeable when they graduate, but this should be shown through their accomplishment met in the classroom.

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  31. I'd say yes. It just makes sure that the students are AT LEAST at a certain level and it gives them a goal to work towards. If anyone is lower than those then they should know they need to work harder.

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  32. I would say no. I think if kids are passing their classes and are showing knowledge in their subjects they should not have to take a test. I never had to take it as well as those previous to me. I think we put to much pressure on testing.

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  33. I believe that students should be proficient with an eighth grade curriculum by the time that they graduate from high school. They can take the test in 10th 11th and 12th, so there is no reason that they shouldn't be able to pass by the end of 12th grade. The support for students is there.

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  34. yes there should be some bar that needs to be passed in order to graduate high school

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