Final answer:
The central topic is educational assessment at the college level, focusing on individual student performance measurements, the inconsistency in proficiency standards, and the impact of 'teaching to the test' on educational approaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The topic under discussion relates to educational assessment and the measurement of student performance. It describes how student proficiency can be measured against the objectives of a curriculum, with a focus on the assessment and improvement of learning before and after instruction. It also touches upon the use of multiple assessment items to gauge understanding and emphasizes that such assessments can be reported in various formats, such as categories or percentages, and highlights the non-standardized nature of these testing methods.
The information provided indicates the discrepancy between states in how they measure student proficiency, with reference to the variability in standards for defining proficiency. Moreover, it brings forward the issue of 'teaching to the test' as influenced by policies such as the No Child Left Behind Act, contrasting two educational approaches: fact-based learning aimed at test success and student-centered learning aimed at fostering problem-solving skills and lifelong learning.
It is essential to develop comprehensive assessments that do not focus solely on standardized tests but also promote deeper learning and understanding of concepts, beneficial for real-world problem-solving and future educational pursuits.