"While the items and tasks are not intended to be used as sample tests, educators can use them to begin planning the shifts in instruction that will be required to help students meet the demands of the new assessments."
The quote above is taken directly from the Smarter Balanced website. While I believe SB is a better assessment tool than the Dakota Step, I believe this quote illuminates a larger problem in education. Shouldn't my students be engaged in high-level, critical thinking, problem-solving, project-based learning and dialog regardless of what test they are required to take at the end of the year? If students are not in a classroom where this type of learning/teaching is going on, does a standardized test fix the problem? I fear that "shifts in instruction" is just a more sanitized way of saying "teaching to the test."
I have to think about this some more. Similar and different views are welcomed!
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