WWTBAM Bored

In the letter Bowles wrote to parents, she explained that even though she would be in breach of contract, she couldn’t in good conscience give the test to her students. The FAIR testing would have meant kindergarten students being tested on a computer using a mouse, Bowles said. Although many of her students are well-versed in using tablets or smart phones, most had not used a desktop computer before. Once an answer is clicked, even if a mistake was made and a student accidentally clicked the wrong place, there is no way to go back to correct it. This means the data that would have been collected would not have been accurate.

If I had a smartphone or a tablet (which I don't), I certainly wouldn't let a five year old touch it...

Parents, go fig....

lb13

I tutor kindergarteners at an elementary school. One day I was there and the teacher was explaining to the kids about how they were supposed to fill out the answer sheets for the twice-yearly MEAP tests. They take them in the fall and again in the spring. The kids were told to "fill in the bubbles, but not too dark or too light, or they will be counted wrong by the computer."

I hear they will be using computerized tests in our district within the next several years. I feel sorry for the teachers-especially the ones who aren't comfortable using computers. They have a computer in the kindergarten class and all the kids get to use it at least once a week. They take turns using it, so every kid gets experience using the keyboard and mouse. They'll be ready for those computerized tests!

My daughter was a mouse expert before she was two. She hasn't used one lately as she uses her tablets or laptop's touch pad.