Measurement – Page 6 – Embrace the Absurd

A rejoinder

Charlie DePascale “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” In the spirit of the Easter season, that was my initial reaction when I read what Steve Sireci had to say in his final newsletter column as president of NCME. I support Steve as a born-again public policy advocate. I agree wholeheartedlyContinue reading “A rejoinder”

A Useless Test Bias Argument

Charlie DePascale “Criticizing test results for reflecting these inequities is like blaming a thermometer for global warming.” That was the viral moment from the recent NCME statement on admissions testing. The line clearly was intended to go viral and it did go viral; well, as viral as any technical defense of standardized testing can goContinue reading “A Useless Test Bias Argument”

Three Little Words

Charlie DePascale Life is full of three-word phrases. Some tend to have profound and lasting consequences that extend far beyond what may have been intended when they were uttered. Phrases such as I Love You, That Looks Safe, and for those among us wavering on new year’s resolutions, Just One Bite might fall into thisContinue reading “Three Little Words”

Rebranding Educational Measurement

Charlie DePascale When I think about educational measurement the first thing that comes to mind is a high-fructose corn syrup commercial from about 10 years ago. On one side there is the man who holds, but cannot articulate, the widespread, but ill-defined, perception (misperception?) that high-fructose corn syrup is inherently bad. On theContinue reading “Rebranding Educational Measurement”

It’s about time

Charlie DePascale We have all asked the question, “Where did the time go?” As troubling as that question can be, more recently, I find myself pondering an even more vexing question, Where did time go? Every day, it seems as though time has been removed as a dimension or component of some part of our livesContinue reading “It’s about time”

Bring back valid tests

Charlie DePascale Those of us of a certain age can recall when it was acceptable to talk about valid tests. One could make the claim that a test was valid; or more often as a precocious graduate student, question whether a test was valid. Some version of the phrase a test is valid to theContinue reading “Bring back valid tests”

Implausible Values

Equating in the early part of the 21st century Charlie DePascale Our field is facing a crisis brought on by implausible values. The values which threaten us, however, are not the assessment results questioned above. Those are only the byproduct of the values which our field and society have adopted with regard to K-12 large-scaleContinue reading “Implausible Values”

The Physics of Psychometrics

Charlie DePascale A metaphysical tale of the past, present, and future relationship between psychometrics and educational assessment.

New Year’s Resolutions

Charlie DePascale “If the body be feeble, the mind will not be strong. The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is best.” – Thomas Jefferson The third week of 2017 has come to an end, and my New Year’s Resolution to improve my fitness level is off toContinue reading “New Year’s Resolutions”

Growing Pains

Charlie DePascale “To ensure greater flexibility in tracking individual students’ annual progress, growth models provide states with more options for a nuanced accountability system, while adhering to the core principles of No Child Left Behind.” — Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings It all seemed so simple in 2005 when states wanted to include growth inContinue reading “Growing Pains”