Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many changes have taken place in schools. From end-of-the-year events being cancelled to adjustments in the world of testing, everything that has occurred between the months of March to May has been far from ordinary and much less expected.
All school districts have had to make fast decisions regarding what they’re going to do after everything that has happened, like how to continue educating students through these extenuating circumstances. The state of Florida, just like most states and as ordered by Governor Ron DeSantis, has decided to continue their education through distance or online learning, meaning students will complete assignments and such using their computer or a device issued by their district.
Although testing has been canceled in many cases, such as the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) exams, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams have continued taking place. While AP exams would usually take place at schools though, in this particular case, they are taking place online and at home.
This has sparked controversy and mixed feelings among many. In the comfort of their own homes, students have access to information in textbooks and on the Internet. But in reality, it’s not all too comforting for test-takers.
Should testing be taking place at a time like this? Is this method of testing effective or a complete waste of time?
“We are all living through a pandemic, but are supposed to act as if nothing is happening and as if people aren’t dying,” said Yasmine Mezawi, a senior at Miami Lakes Educational Center (MLEC) and the Class of 2020 Vice President. “Other programs such as AICE have allowed teachers to submit work throughout the year for the students and provide a grade, which I feel is a better approach to these college exams during a time like this.”
“Not everyone has a stable internet. Not everyone has a place where they won’t get distracted to take the exam. And at the end of the day, the online exam has failed for many students when going to submit files, so now they have to retake the exam,” continued Mezawi.
The thought process, as argued by many, behind giving students these tests online was to give hard-working students a chance to take the test after putting so much time and effort into studying for it. However, that does not change the fact that the world is in a difficult situation right now and everyone, including students, has a lot on their plate at the moment. On top of that, making students take these tests right now might not be the most effective approach.
Teachers too have their own thoughts and feelings about testing at home and online.
“I also understand that students spent 75% of the school year in an AP class. Most kids want the opportunity to earn the college credit. If the tests are cancelled, then they don’t have that opportunity. If exams were postponed to the fall, if we are back in school in the fall, then will students still remember the material from the previous school year? And those tests would come too late for graduating seniors, who will hopefully be in college by then,” said AP Literature teacher Mrs. Neyda Borges, who as well expressed concern in how different the new tests being administered are.
“In AP Literature, one essay determines whether a student passes the exam. Usually, students have a multiple choice section and three essays. If they don’t do as well on one of the three essays, they still have an opportunity to really do well on the other two. The three scores average out. But this year, one passage and one essay is all they get. That is stressful and also not necessarily the most accurate measure of what a student knows,” Borges continued.
“It’s a flawed system. But, back to how I stated, this is certainly not fair, but it was the best that we could do.”
