My kids have a big standardized test coming up in a week that will tell us if are they working at, above or below grade level. Unfortunately, at school, they’ve spent the past months teaching to the test, missing robust ways to help my children understand concepts instead of deducing correct answers. As I’ve watched them come home daily talking about their preparation, as a leadership coach, I could not help but wonder what positive lessons will they carry with them from this testing experience? Are there leadership lessons from standardized testing that are being missed in the stress and anxiety of getting a good score?
As I wrestle to find the positive lessons, I think what makes me the most uncomfortable is that this test is teaching them that there is an answer to the question “Am I good enough?” that I honestly don’t like. Their score is simply that, a score not a badge of worthiness. They are good, loving, and smart kids who try hard AND they may “fail” on parts of the test. Not an easy task for many children or adults when standardized results are emotionally tangled with self-confidence and self-esteem.
Like most crazy parents, I had my children do a practice test this weekend in one of the core domain areas that they’re assessing. It was a 45 minute timed test and they both were finished in less than 20 minutes. Can you guess the outcome? I wasn’t thrilled that they seemingly rushed through, but instead of berating them for wrong answers, we’re focused on encouraging smart habits.
What do you think…
Can smart test taking tips from primary school inform our leadership as adults?
My gut tells me that there are more opportunities to glean learning from the standardized test experience that applies to your leadership than it may seem at first blush. Successful testing and leadership not only require baseline knowledge, but also clear thinking and a positive mindset. Leaders are often under stress and students experience standardized test anxiety regularly due to months of preparation. Moreover, no matter that teachers tell the students not to worry, it’s only a test, their actions are inconsistent with their reassurances and often fall flat. Hello… need I really say more about leaders whose words and actions are out of alignment?
There are definitely two sides to standardized testing that offer us leadership lessons; teacher preparation and the student experience. Since I’m a Mom and a leadership coach, and not an educator, I’m looking from the test-taker perspective. Many of the tips below fit my children’s testing experience, but I’ve also raised similar points with my leadership clients (in a different context, of course).
18 Leadership Lessons from Standardized Testing
- Don’t rush.
- Review your work.
- It never pays to beat the deadline and turn in crappy work.
- Don’t be afraid to change your answers.
- You can get the easy problems done first, but always go back to the harder ones.
- Break it down to figure it out.
- Your score on any one task isn’t a reflection of your overall capabilities.
- There is no failure, only learning opportunities.
- Don’t assume they’re trying to trick you.
- Take a deep breath.
- Don’t get so flustered that you forget what you know.
- Seek to understand before you get started on solutions.
- Eliminate paths that are clearly bad and look more closely at the real possibilities.
- Use your extra time to make it great instead of just shooting for “done.”
- Have strategies to help you, but be willing to part with them when they don’t fit.
- Use your results to focus on getting stronger, not lamenting gaps.
- Believe you can do it.
- Know that all you can ever do is your best.
I’m not a fan of standardized tests as if it’s a reflection of potential. It’s a snapshot of current knowledge that needs to be combined with a strong mindset and targeted follow-up. Test results don’t define what’s possible, but set the stage for continuous improvement – something every student, parent and leader should strive for on an ongoing basis.
What tips would you add to the list above that applies to leaders and learners?
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Excellent post Alli!
May add 3 additional tips to your list?
a- Practice well before taking the test
b- Have a good night sleep before taking the test. A clear mind is the best policy for success.
c-Consider the test as a challenging game and not a life sentence experience.
Hoda
Yes, yes and yes, Hoda! Breakfast doesn’t hurt either 🙂
Love putting it in the context of a game too. It’s a chance to ‘show what you know’ (good name for a gameshow, right?) and not judgement day.
Thanks for the additions!
Great 18 +3 tips.
I would suggest. .
1. Fear of failure must never discourage you from giving a try.
2. Success sometimes is not in first attempt only.
Great additions, Syed! Resilience is KEY! Success may not even come in the second or third attempt but when it matters, you keep on trying, learning and growing.
Very much appreciate your comment here and hope you’ll be back to share more of your wisdom in the future!
Hi Alli
I loved the post, having had a mixed bag of results in my lifetime! I also achieved my best ever results through continuous assessment routes!
I fully endorse the additions made by Hoda and Syed and would add these thoughts ~ learn to love to learn in whatever situation you find yourself in … and feel the fear and take the risk anyway!
Have a brilliant week!
Kind regards
John 🙂
John,
Tests don’t define us they point us… towards growth. Sounds like you’ve adopted a positive mindset of continuous development instead of fear and dread. That’s critical for leaders everywhere.
Thanks for your great additions!!
Loved this post, Alli!
And smiled when I read this: “Teachers tell the students not to worry, it’s only a test, their actions are inconsistent with their reassurances and often fall flat. Hello… ”
You are correct: success is not always the point; it’s about learning and growing.
It’s all about our mindset (which I know you understand better than most). If we’re really striving to do our personal best and continue to improve on that mark, based on the feedback the results give us, there’s value.
Thanks, LaRae!
Standardized tests are unfortunately the life of a school-age child and beyond. These assessments seem to never stop as they perpetuate mental anguish and self doubt.
I think the toughest thing for kids and leaders alike to do is to stay focused and not allow the distractions to take over our brains.
I would add that it helped when I didn’t look around and judge myself with the other people in the room. Be the best we can be!
Thanks Alli for reminding me of the “not so good old days” with my kids!
Terri – it’s the constant comparison and judgement that really causes the most pain, isn’t it? There are some prancing around their superiority (at least superior test taking skills) and others simply left feeling bad. It’s important to help people reflect on their individual results and make personal gains in knowledge and skills as opposed to segmenting people into winners and losers. (and of course, the kids share their results)
Always appreciate your insights, Terri!
This particular post swirled in my brain for some time, Alli, as I sought to understand your message. I think I am getting a handle on my confusion / concern.
You suggest that leaders can get at least 18 lessons from standardized testing. But the list, to me, are ones that students should learn during their preparation and in their post-assessment after testing. To me, this suggests lessons for employees, not their leaders. Leaders might encourage such efforts through their mentoring and encouragement of employees.
The true lesson for leaders from standardized testing is to avoid the arbitrariness of their reliance on (often inappropriate) assessment. The terrible, stressful truths of standardized testing are (1) as you say, they are but one (lousy – my word) snapshot of each student’s knowledge; (2) the uses of results (grading of teachers and schools – rather than a formative assessment of each student’s needs) arbitrarily and inappropriately; and (3) such poor decision-making will indeed raise stress levels and promote mistrust.
Leaders (including education leaders) should learn that their efforts must be transparent, appropriate, and trustworthy. These to me at least are the important lessons from standardized testing so widespread today.
I agree with everything you wrote here, John. This post is really a snapshot of lessons we can help pass on to the next generation of leaders (and should not forget ourselves either). The points you raise are the exact things that keep me up at night and at the same time fill me with hope that the way educators use standardized testing to inform their view of a child’s capabilities will someday transform.
Also, interesting to think of how they assess their employee’s capabilities and instead of writing someone off after a single failure can use some of these concepts in their coaching and mentoring to help people learn and grow their skills, attitudes and mindsets.
A sincere thanks for your comment. I appreciate the richness it brings to this discussion.
Great list, Alli. For leaders, I would suggest: Skip the standardized test and take the time to develop an engaging essay! With an essay, innovation can be explored and what you learn can be explored, leading to a sound conclusion in which to rally others around.
Thanks! Jon
My kids have essays in their standardized testing! Your point here raises exactly what I’ve told them. Love your reframing of the old-school standardized test! Essays have a plan, a vision and room for creativity and personality – all critical for leadership!
Thanks, Jon!
Yeah! Third time I’ve tried to comment on this – and thankfully the Internet is cooperating!
This line is what hooked me and made me cheer from the other side of the world! “Test results don’t define what’s possible, but set the stage for continuous improvement…” Yes! Yes! Yes!
Thanks for not giving up on the comment, Chery! Change is moving towards something of meaning, not only fixing what (we think) is present. Always appreciate your insights on change. Glad we’re on the same page here!
As an educator myself, I find these tests to be useless. If parents agree, why do we put up with it? You are the customer!
Standardized tests were created with good intentions as a tool to hold teachers accountable. However, it doesn’t work. It ends up rewarding teachers who teach to the test and penalizing innovative teachers.
Appreciate your thoughts, James! My top goal for me children is that they learn to love school but more importantly love learning. It’s hard when so much emphasis is put on a single test. I ask if they’ve learned “this or that” yet and their answer is no, it’s not on the NAPLAN. Hummm.
Many thanks for sharing your insights and experience on this!