Comments on: Science lite http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/05/science-lite-3/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:47:54 +0000 hourly 1 By: Supersub http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/05/science-lite-3/#comment-36565 Supersub Tue, 27 May 2008 23:41:20 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/05/27/science-lite-3/#comment-36565 Sounds like the NY Living Environment (Bio) Regents exam. When the course was redesigned in 2000, much of the content was cut to focus on larger "concepts" such as if an organ in your body isn't working, your survival might be affected. What organ? Doesn't matter. In addition the test included more reading-heavy questions, many of which have been evaluated as requiring a 12th grade reading level (the course is usually taken by 9-10th graders). The changes make me wonder how many liberal arts majors are making the test. This isn't a problem because of a huge curve... students generally only need around a 48% raw score to get a 65% final score. And New York is viewed as being one of the top education states in the country... Sounds like the NY Living Environment (Bio) Regents exam. When the course was redesigned in 2000, much of the content was cut to focus on larger “concepts” such as if an organ in your body isn’t working, your survival might be affected. What organ? Doesn’t matter.
In addition the test included more reading-heavy questions, many of which have been evaluated as requiring a 12th grade reading level (the course is usually taken by 9-10th graders). The changes make me wonder how many liberal arts majors are making the test.
This isn’t a problem because of a huge curve… students generally only need around a 48% raw score to get a 65% final score.
And New York is viewed as being one of the top education states in the country…

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/05/science-lite-3/#comment-36564 Elizabeth Tue, 27 May 2008 19:40:09 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/05/27/science-lite-3/#comment-36564 Ladybird is Brit for Ladybug. Ladybird is Brit for Ladybug.

]]> By: Rob http://www.joannejacobs.com/2008/05/science-lite-3/#comment-36563 Rob Tue, 27 May 2008 16:49:19 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2008/05/27/science-lite-3/#comment-36563 >What animal might have produced a star-shaped fossil? >Choices are: a snail, a starfish, a ladybird or a slug. What the heck is a president's widow doing on the list? I have to say this test looks like it was designed to make sure anyone who could read would pass. Let's see, now, who in the world could benefit from a lot of kids getting undeserved passing grades on a science test? Choices are: a starfish, the educational establishment, Ladybird, or a slug. >What animal might have produced a star-shaped fossil?
>Choices are: a snail, a starfish, a ladybird or a slug.

What the heck is a president’s widow doing on the list?

I have to say this test looks like it was designed to make sure anyone who could read would pass. Let’s see, now, who in the world could benefit from a lot of kids getting undeserved passing grades on a science test? Choices are: a starfish, the educational establishment, Ladybird, or a slug.

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