Morgan Mathews ED PS 6445 Final Paper To Test or Not to Test?

In our school district this year, we have been asked to use a computer-testing program to test our students throughout the school year in the math, language arts, and science curriculum. The computer tests that we are required to take are very time consuming, and take up a lot of the computer time we use for things like keyboarding, and other computer programs we have in our school. The school district would like all teachers to use the data from these tests to help lead instruction in class and to help us prepare for the end of year testing that comes in May. As a leader in my school, I was chosen by my principal to be the person in charge of this new program and the technology requirements that come with it. I am the go to person for the faculty to ask any questions they may have about the program from things like adding new students, creating new tests online, and the testing window dates for the year. As you can probably guess, this program has not been well accepted by many of the teachers in the district. The change has been bearable by most, but almost not by many others. It has become a major implementation dip, meaning the change that occurs when something new is added, creates low self-esteem in the performance category and an anxious feeling of pressure to do well (Fullan, 2001). Many teachers just do not know how to handle adding one more thing to their busy schedules this year.

In this situation I have to learn how to handle two different roles as the educational leader in our school. Not only do I need to know the program and all of the details that come with it, but I also have to be the optimist with the program and show other teachers that we can handle it. I have always been a people pleaser, so for me to be the one disagreeing with others, and trying to show the other side of things, has been a challenge for me. I know that is has to be done and soon enough, I can try to help others feel the same way about this program. As Fullan stated, we need to redefine resistance and listen to those who we disagree with (Fullan, 2001). I need to do my best to redefine the resistance and show the faculty that there is a way to get through this program and actually learn from it with a positive attitude. The way for me to help the teachers has been put into three different parts. The first thing I need to do is help the teachers gain that positive attitude about the program. So much negative energy and discussion has been going around that could be focused on the resources they can use to help the students. The second thing that I need to do is help the teachers understand the data and the results that come from this program. If they do not see what the end result is through the data of their students, they are definitely not going to see the point in integrating the computer program in their daily schedules. Sheingold states that the active learning/teaching approach is the way to help students be involved and to understand the deeper meaning of what is being taught (Sheingold, 1991). I feel like this can be applied to even a computer-testing program, as the students look at their data from the tests and really apply themselves to see what they need to improve on. This connects to my third part of the plan; helping teachers as well as students see the purpose. If the

teachers can see the benefits that come through out this school year as we work through the changes, then they can help their students see it as well. If the students understand why they are taking the tests and push themselves to work harder through out the year, then they will be able to produce great results by the end of the school year. Through this program there will be many ups and downs, but I feel as if I have come up with a plan that truly caters to the faculty at my school, of whom I know and understand their reaction to new programs. As stated in the National Broadband Plan, we are preparing students as well as teachers to be college and career ready, by tracking progress and improvement through a data system (FCC, 2010). This testing program opens the window to student success and helps teachers to be the educators they need to be, by adapting to change, and by putting the set plan for those students above all other plans.

Work Cited Fullan, M. (2001). Leading in a culture of change. (pp. 31-49). San Francisco: JosseyBass Federal Communications Commission, (2010). National broadband plan Sheingold, K. (1991, September 1). Restructuring for learning with technology: The potential for synergy. Phi Delta Kappan, 73