scholarly journals Formative Decision-Making in Response to Primary Science Classroom Assessment: What to do Next?

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Earle
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Classroom Assessment ◽  
Science Classroom ◽  
Primary Teachers ◽  
Teacher Assessment ◽  
Primary Science ◽  
Assessment Activity ◽  
Whole Class ◽  
Pupil Learning ◽  
Use Of Assessment

Classroom assessment is purposeful when the information is utilised by teachers to support learning. Such formative assessment practices can be difficult to enact in a primary science classroom, with the whole class often involved in practical activities and with limited lesson time. This preliminary study seeks to explore formative decision-making and the subsequent actions taken by teachers in the classroom. Primary teachers who used a Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) Focused Assessment activity were asked to describe what action they took as a result of the classroom interactions stimulated by the activity. 142 teachers in 9 regions of England completed a paper questionnaire at a training day. The qualitative data pertinent to the study was extracted and thematic content analysis carried out to determine the kinds of actions and changes to practice that were described. It was found that the “next step” described by teachers varied in timing; some made changes within the lesson, others provided follow up activities or made longer-term adaptation to teaching practices. Being responsive to the assessment information provided by the children took many forms, for example, supporting pupils to reflect on investigations during the lesson, discussing vocabulary or concepts, providing time for further exploration, or explicit modeling of science skills. Formative decisions were taken at a whole class level, rather than making individual adaptations. It is argued that enabling teachers to be more explicit about their tacit decision-making could support them to make more formative use of assessment information to support pupil learning.

scholarly journals Development and exemplification of a model for Teacher Assessment in Primary Science

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (14) ◽  
pp. 1869-1890
Author(s):  
D. J. Davies ◽  
S. Earle ◽  
K. McMahon ◽  
A. Howe ◽  
C. Collier
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Assessment ◽  
Primary Science

scholarly journals Pre-service Teachers’ Decision-Making and Classroom Assessment Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherry Zin Oo ◽  
Dennis Alonzo ◽  
Chris Davison
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Classroom Assessment ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Initial Teacher Education ◽  
Integrate Assessment ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Supervising Teachers ◽  
Assessment Strategies

Classroom assessment practices play a pivotal role in ensuring effective learning and teaching. One of the most desired attributes of teachers is the ability to gather and analyze assessment data to make trustworthy decisions leading to supporting student learning. However, this ability is often underdeveloped for a variety of reasons, including reports that teachers are overwhelmed by the complex process of data analysis and decision-making and that often there is insufficient attention to authentic assessment practices which focus on assessment for learning (AfL) in initial teacher education (ITE), so teachers are uncertain how to integrate assessment into teaching and make trustworthy assessment decisions to develop student learning. This paper reports on the results of a study of the process of pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) decision-making in assessment practices in Myanmar with real students and in real classroom conditions through the lens of teacher agency. Using a design-based research methodology, a needs-based professional development program for PSTs’ assessment literacy was developed and delivered in one university. Following the program, thirty PSTs in the intervention group were encouraged to implement selected assessment strategies during their practicum. Semi-structured individual interviews were undertaken with the intervention group before and after their practicum in schools. This data was analyzed together with data collected during their practicum, including lesson plans, observation checklists and audiotapes of lessons. The analysis showed that PSTs’ decision-making in the classroom was largely influenced by their beliefs of and values in using assessment strategies but, importantly, constrained by their supervising teachers. The PSTs who understood the principles of AfL and wanted to implement on-going assessment experienced tension with supervising teachers who wanted to retain high control of the practicum. As a result, most PSTs could not use assessment strategies effectively to inform their decisions about learning and teaching activities. Those PSTs who were allowed greater autonomy during their practicum and understood AfL assessment strategies had greater freedom to experiment, which allowed them multiple opportunities to apply the result of any assessment activity to improve both their own teaching and students’ learning. The paper concludes with a discussion of the kind of support PSTs need to develop their assessment decision-making knowledge and skills during their practicum.

scholarly journals Promoting Societal-Oriented Communication and Decision Making Skills by Learning about Advertising in Science Education

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-49
Author(s):  
Nadja Belova ◽  
Ingo Eilks
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Science Education ◽  
Science Classroom ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
School Context ◽  
Consumer Learning ◽  
Factual Information ◽  
Specific Language ◽  
Everyday Lives

In our everyday lives we are surrounded by advertising in its various forms. Thus in the school context it is not surprising that the issue of advertising is addressed by different subjects, with the main foci being advertising-specific language, images and illustrations, use of stereotypes, strategies of persuasion etc. But advertising also contains factual information, being explicit or implicit, to make a campaign more credible and underline the effectiveness of a certain product. Dealing with the use of factual information in advertising critically is important for the consumer. For many products this information is derived from science and technology. Understanding the science in and behind advertising is necessary to become a critical consumer. Learning about the use of science in advertising also allows promoting societal-oriented communication and decision making skills in the science classroom. Unfortunately, only a few examples on the use of advertising in the science classroom exist. This paper provides a justification for the use of advertising in science education. Examples from the classroom developed in the framework of the PROFILES-project are provided by way of illustration.

scholarly journals “What do fishermen catch?”; Exploring Talk between Students in Primary Science Classroom Implementing Curriculum 2013

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Munasprianto Ramli
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literacy ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Science Classroom ◽  
Science Lesson ◽  
Primary Science ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Video Recorder ◽  
Field Note ◽  
Response Feedback

AbstractThe objective of this research is to explore of dialogue in primary science classrooms that implement Curriculum 2013. Dialogue is a term used in a broad sense to mean the exchange of information, thought and ideas from the sources to audiences through both written and spoken language. In this study, the sort of dialogue I am interested in is classroom talk; even more specifically, talk between students in the primary science classroom. A case study approach is employed for this study. I am focusing my study on twelve science lessons at year four of one primary schools in the Greater Jakarta. Data were gathered using classroom observations. I wrote a field note for each lesson and record the observation using audio and video recorder For analysing the data, I employed socio culture discourse analysis. The study shows that talk between students during a science lesson is adapted from both a traditional triadic pattern called Initiation, Response, Feedback (IRF) and a non-triadic pattern of Initiation, Response, Feedback, Response, Feedback (IRFRF) chain. In addition, the findings indicate that students were able to develop the four domains of scientific literacy through talks during science lessons.AbstrakTujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengeksplorasi dialog di dalam kelas sains dasar yang menerapkan Kurikulum 2013. Dialog adalah istilah yang digunakan dalam arti luas berarti pertukaran informasi, pemikiran dan ide-ide dari sumber pembicara ke lawan bicara melalui komunikasi baik lisan maupun tulisan. Dalam penelitian ini, jenis dialog yang menarik bagi peneliti adalah pembicaraan di kelas; khususnya, pembicaraan antara siswa di kelas sains tingkat Sekolah Dasar. Pendekatan studi kasus digunakan pada penelitian ini. Fokus penelitian ini adalah dua belas materi ajar mata pelajaran sains pada kelas empat dari salah satu sekolah dasar di Jabodetabek. Data penelitian ini dikumpulkan dengan menggunakan observasi kelas. Peneliti menulis catatan lapangan untuk setiap pengajaran dan merekam kegiatan pengajaran menggunakan audio dan perekam video. Untuk menganalisis data, peneliti menggunakan analisis wacana sosial budaya. Studi ini menunjukkan bahwa perbincangan antara siswa selama pelajaran sains diadaptasi dari pola triadic-tradisional yang disebut Initiation (Inisiasi), Response (Respon), dan Feedback (Timbal Balik) yang disingkat IRF dan pola non-triadic yang disebut Initiation (Inisiasi), Response (Respon), Feedback (Timbal Balik), Response (Respon), Feedback (Timbal Balik) yang disebut denga Rantai IRFRF. Selain itu, temuan menunjukkan bahwa siswa mampu mengembangkan empat domain literasi ilmiah melalui diskusi selama pelajaran ilmu pengetahuan 

scholarly journals Balancing the demands of validity and reliability in practice: Case study of a changing system of primary science summative assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah G. Earle
Keyword(s):  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Summative Assessment ◽  
Teacher Assessment ◽  
Primary Science ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Trade Off

Teacher summative judgements of children’s attainment in science, which are statutory at age 11 in England, require consideration of both valid sampling of the construct and reliable comparison of outcomes. In order to develop understanding of the enacted ‘trade off’ between validity and reliability, this three-year case study, within the Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) project, was undertaken during a period of statutory assessment change in England. The case demonstrates an ongoing balancing act between the demands of reliability and validity, and resulted in the development of a teacher assessment seesaw, which provides a model for both interpreting and supporting practice, within and beyond primary science.

Environmental Assessment, Cognition, and Action: Research Applications

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ervin H. Zube
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Environmental Planning ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Assessment Activity ◽  
Management Decision Making ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Physical Environmental Factors

Environmental assessment has been defined as “a general conceptual and methodological framework for describing and predicting how attributes of places relate to a wide range of cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses” (Craik & Feimer, 1987). A primary purpose for assessing environments is to provide valid and reliable information that has utility in environmental planning, design, and management decision making. Implicit in the assessment activity is the assumption of identifiable relationships of physical environmental factors with descriptive and evaluative assessments, and with predictions of responses to places conceptualized in plans and designs, but not yet built. This chapter addresses the utility of research findings. Three primary questions are posed. Why are some environmental assessment and cognition research findings used successfully in decision making while others are not? What factors contribute to these outcomes? And how important are physical environmental factors in planning, design, and management decision making? The preceding chapters by Rachel Kaplan, Reginald Golledge, and Harry Timmermans provide the background for the following discussion. The first section of this chapter presents a brief review of similarities and differences among the three preceding chapters, with specific attention directed to interpretations or definitions of the concepts of assessment and preference, the use of physical environmental variables in the assessment process, and the roles of laypersons and experts in assessment. Potential uses for and applications of environmental assessment research are described in the second section. This is followed by a discussion of the differences between instrumental and conceptual applications and of factors that have been identified as influencing applications, factors such as communications between researchers and users, responsibilities for problem definition, and the context within which the research is conducted. This chapter concludes with a discussion of the opportunities for and probable limitations on applications of the preceding chapters by R. Kaplan, Golledge, and Timmermans. Four concepts and elements that are addressed in the three chapters have been selected for purposes of structuring a comparison among them. These concepts and elements—assessment, preference, roles of laypersons and experts, and physical environmental factors—are particularly salient to the issue of research applications.

scholarly journals 424 Do classroom assessment techniques improve student learning in an introduction to animal science laboratory course?

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 180-180
Author(s):  
Amy Abrams ◽  
Katelyn Zeamer ◽  
Rosemarie Nold ◽  
Michael Gonda
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Assessment ◽  
Student Perception ◽  
Animal Science ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Assessment Activity ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
And Control

Abstract Classroom assessment techniques (CATs) may be valuable for engaging students in the learning process, monitoring students’ learning, and establishing a communication feedback loop. However, CATs have not been evaluated in Animal Science classes. Our objective was to test if CATs affected final exam grades and students’ perception of learning among Animal Science students. Our sample consisted of students (n = 95) enrolled in four laboratory sections (n = 24 per lab section) of an Introduction to Animal Science course at South Dakota State University. Two sections were randomly selected to complete CATs at the conclusion of each laboratory period. Assessments forms encouraged students to reflect, seek clarification, and evaluate their confidence on that day’s material. A rubric was used to evaluate quality of the assessment responses throughout the semester. Feedback was provided at the beginning of the next week’s laboratory period to clarify material that students had expressed difficulty understanding. Final exam grades were compared between assessment and control groups using a Students t-test. Data were collected on student perception of classroom engagement, communication, and learning abilities through a Likert scale survey administered at the end of the semester. Surveys administered to students that participated in the CAT included additional questions to evaluate assessment effectiveness. Survey data was analyzed using a chi-squared test to evaluate differences between lab sections for general questions and within lab sections for assessment-specific questions. No differences (P > 0.05) between groups were observed for final exam grades. Students that participated in the CAT perceived that the CAT positively impacted their ability to learn, provided guidance for study material, and was an effective use of classroom time (P < 0.05). The CAT was viewed favorably by students who participated in the assessment activity, although participation in the CAT was not associated with increased final exam scores.

scholarly journals Socioscientific Decision Making in the Science Classroom: The Effect of Embedded Metacognitive Instructions on Students' Learning Outcomes

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Eggert ◽  
Frauke Ostermeyer ◽  
Marcus Hasselhorn ◽  
Susanne Bögeholz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Science Classroom ◽  
Socioscientific Issues ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Cooperative Training ◽  
Training Strategies

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of cooperative training strategies to enhance students' socioscientific decision making as well as their metacognitive skills in the science classroom. Socioscientific decision making refers to both “describing socioscientific issues” as well as “developing and evaluating solutions” to socioscientific issues. We investigated two cooperative training strategies which differed with respect to embedded metacognitive instructions that were developed on the basis of the IMPROVE method. Participants were 360 senior high school students who studied either in a cooperative learning setting (COOP), a cooperative learning setting with embedded metacognitive questions (COOP+META), or a nontreatment control group. Results indicate that students in the two training conditions outperformed students in the control group on both processes of socioscientific decision making. However, students in the COOP+META condition did not outperform students in the COOP condition. With respect to students' learning outcomes on the regulation facet of metacognition, results indicate that all conditions improved over time. Students in the COOP+META condition exhibited highest mean scores at posttest measures, but again, results were not significant. Implications for integrating metacognitive instructions into science classrooms are discussed.

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