| External
Assessment, known as standardized assessment, refers to all
student testing developed and used by sources outside of the
tested student's school. Examples of external assessment include
criterion-referenced tests such as the Texas Assessment of Academic
Skills (TAAS); achievement tests, such as the Iowa Test of Basic
Skills and the Stanford Achievement Tests; and college entrance
tests such as the SAT and ACT.
In
addition to their role in public accountability systems, the
results of external assessments can be used by music educators
to inform their instruction. By interpreting data in the context
of their personal knowledge of students and by using data
in conjunction with internal assessments, teachers gain an
additional tool for understanding and promoting their students'
learning.
Conversely,
music education may improve school performance throughout
their K-12 education. Music lessons have been shown to improve
preschoolers' spatial concept formation, which is crucial
for higher brain functions such as complex mathematics (Frances
Rauscher, PH.D., Gordon Shaw, Ph.D., University of California,
Irvine). Additionally, there is a direct correlation between
improved SAT scores and the length of time spent studying
the arts. Those who studied the arts four or more years scored
59 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math portions
of the SAT than students with no coursework or experience
in the arts. (Profiles of SAT and Achievement Test Takers,
The College Board, compiled by MENC, 1995).
|
