tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31189917.post6170074104069259696..comments2024-03-11T04:40:23.756-07:00Comments on The Blog of Phyz: ExploratoRio is coming (and I may try something new)Dean Bairdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17681829220589441713noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31189917.post-76539079241933970212011-04-16T10:44:27.364-07:002011-04-16T10:44:27.364-07:00Hey Jonathan, that's unfortunate. Our list of ...Hey Jonathan, that's unfortunate. Our list of suggestions this year included encouraging students to chew gum.<br /><br />My response is always to be kind and tactful as I request references. <br /><br />"As a student of science, I'm always eager to learn. Can you provide me a link to the research supporting the claim that ____ will improve student testing performance? I tried to find such support, but failed. The only things I could find were dismissals of such claims as unsupported 'wive's tales' or urban legends. Please set me straight."<br /><br />It's a bit of a Columbo angle, but I think it's wise to inquire from a position of a curious student. But to also include that the whole business is hogwash.<br /><br />The response I got this year was a retreat in the form of, "oh, that was just a bit of light-heartedness, not to be taken seriously." An objective examination of the suggestions list would contradict that assessment, but OK.<br /><br />I was certain to provide a link to my post, "Peppermint Party" elsewhere on this blog. The hope is that no other such nonsense will appear in future administrative missives.<br /><br />In the event that they do, stepping it up might be called for. One option is to "reply to all" (instead of "reply") on the Columbo-esque inquiry/debunk. Be prepared for colleagues to defend unsupported claims, and to be called out as a killjoy curmudgeon incapable of appreciating the benefits of the placebo effect. The argument is that it's OK to lie to students if doing so produces an increase in standardized test performance.<br /><br />Testing makes people crazy.Dean Bairdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17681829220589441713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31189917.post-52965602953153652732011-04-13T10:01:16.196-07:002011-04-13T10:01:16.196-07:00I have another one for you regarding the "Wri...I have another one for you regarding the "Wristbandits." My school has invested money in peppermint scented pencils for our CST exams. Our admin claims "research shows" that students do better on tests with these pencils.Jonathan Hannanoreply@blogger.com