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Plunging test scores are a slow-moving catastrophe

207 points · 414 comments · vinni2

  1. dumberquestions · · focus · HN ↗
    The drop from 2018 to 2022 is as big as the one from 2022 to 2026, so it's not obvious whether AI had a role at all, although it's highly plausible.

    I suspect the bigger culprit is the optimized monetization of human attention, because pre-algorithmic social media doesn't seem to be as destructive. The fact that science wasn't as affected as math and reading (both of which rely more on attention/practice than rote memorization) somewhat supports this.

    1. nonethewiser · · focus · HN ↗
      Let’s also not forget efforts to make test scores less important.

      If you actually tied outcomes to test scores all these “causes” would disappear.

      1. chowells · · focus · HN ↗
        Tied test scores to what outcomes? Bush the second tried tying test results to one kind of outcomes (school funding), and the result was schools getting worse.
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