An article I found interesting was from the Craig Daily Press: Almost 140 students get credit for CSAP. The CSAP is Colorado’s assessment test for schools. What I found interesting was that by offering elective credit to students who scored accordingly on the test students were motivated to do well. The credits would not replace required credits, they were strictly elective.
This is shocking to me. When I was taking the MEAPs in high school, which I assume to be the Michigan equivalent, students were offered $1500 for getting high marks; $1500 that I collected myself. However, many of my classmates did not take this so seriously and many missed out.
I did not try harder on the MEAPs because I wanted the money. I was just a good student who did what I was told. The fact that I got the money was just a bonus. What is shocking to me is that the elective credit was so motivating. If my classmates were not motivated by money they sure wouldn’t have been from class credit.
This article pointed out to me something that I hadn’t thought of before. With assessment I was concerned at how it was unfair to students. I never thought it the students treated the test unfairly. But if students don’t take the tests seriously the results don’t matter.
I definately did not come from a richer community. I went to a small school in the Kentwood/Wyoming area. I agree with you I think that its sad that people didn’t take it more seriously, at my high school people were more occupied with the opposite sex and drinking… not all of them but for sure a lot of them. I’m not saying that I didn’t take the MEAP seriously I’m saying that I didn’t have to struggle to do well. All through high school I was a good student.