Higher Order Thinking by Setting and Debriefing Tasks in Dutch Geography Lessons

Tasks are a powerful instrument for geography teachers, as they let students engage with the subject. To advance the cumulative learning of students, teachers have to make sure that students learn how to deal with complex and abstract knowledge structures. In the Netherlands, teachers face a dilemma when it comes to task setting: the intended curriculum aims for a considerable part at (parts of) higher order thinking, whereas the high-stakes exams have a clear focus on the use of thinking strategies. This paper explores the task setting and debriefing of Dutch geography teachers by analyzing twenty-three videotaped lessons in upper secondary education by using the Geography Task Categorization Framework. The results show that Dutch teachers mostly rely on textbooks when setting tasks. The focus lies on reproduction and the use of thinking strategies. Tasks aiming at (parts of) higher order thinking are barely used. Furthermore, teachers use tasks from previous high-stakes exams already used in an early stage of upper secondary education. In the debriefing of tasks, teachers move from simple and concrete to complex and abstract knowledge and vice versa. However, most of these movements aim at simplifying knowledge structures. In the observed lessons, curriculum aims at the level of (parts of) higher order thinking are not achieved. The evaluative rules as set by the high-stakes exams and the type of tasks offered by textbooks seem to be dominant.

The Impact of Language Testing Washback in Promoting Teaching and Learning Processes: A Theoretical Review

Existing literature indicates that assessment is a critical aspect of teaching and learning language; the outcomes of testing are vital. The history of assessment can be traced back to when exams primarily served two significant purposes in China: choosing candidates for admission into government offices and preventing corruption. Washback as a concept can be traced back to the 1990s. It was advanced by Alderson and Wall in 1993 as a force that obliges test-takers and tutors to engage in particular tasks or activities due to exams. In this regard, washback is an impact that a test has on the teaching and learning process. High-stakes exams like the LOBELA demonstrate the significance of washback in the Saudi English-as-a-foreign-language context. This paper explores the mechanisms through which washback occurs in teaching and learning processes, ways to determine its validity, and different types of washback. It further highlights the impact of washback in promoting teaching and learning processes, as well as the role it plays in policy development in the educational system.   

Automated Essay Scoring Using Deep Learning Algorithms

The recent transition from paper to digitally based assessment has brought many positive changes in educational testing. For example, many high-stakes exams have started implementing essay-type questions because they allow students to creatively express their understanding with their own words. To reduce the burden of scoring these items, the implementation of automated essay scoring (AES) systems have gained more attention. However, despite some of the successful demonstrations, AES still encountered many criticisms from practitioners. Such concerns often include prediction accuracy and interpretability of the scoring algorithms. Hence, overcoming these challenges is critical for AES to be widely adopted in the field. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce deep learning AES models and to describe how certain aspects of the models can be used to overcome the challenges of prediction accuracy and interpretability of the scoring algorithms.

Differences in Science American College Testing Scores between Traditional and Alternative Science Sequences

To examine differences between sequences of secondary science courses on achievement on science high stakes exams, a purposive quantitative research design was utilized in this study. A short survey was sent out to public high schools in the state of Missouri that asked to identify their main science course sequence. In addition, participants were asked to indicate if they had altered their science course sequence between the years of 2012 and 2017. This data were compared to their average building science American College Testing (ACT) score for the 2015–2016 and 2016–2017 school years in which all 16–17-year-olds in the state were required to take the exam. The analysis of the results found no connection between science course sequence and performance on the science section of the ACT for either year. In addition, it was found that schools that indicated that they altered their science course sequence had no difference in performance on the science portion of the ACT. Further research is needed to determine if there are any benefits to altering a science course sequence.

Effect of High-Stakes Exams on Creative Writing Skills of ESL Learners in Pakistan

Creative writing owns an important place in the education system. It enlightens creativity and boosts critical thinking among students. Therefore, it appears to be a ruling skill. Knowing that conventional high-stakes examination leaves a key impact on teaching and learning, the present study was designed to identify the effect of high-stakes exams on creative writing skills of secondary level students of English as a Second Language (ESL) in Pakistan. For this, the content of a series of seven English tests by 8th, 9th, and 10th graders (separately) taken in one of the two spans of private coaching at a renowned tuition center for preparation of high-stakes exams was analyzed to see incremental change in students’ creative writing abilities. Analysis discovered that the whole of students’ content was mere replicas of ready-made notes except few traces of original effort by students only in the beginning. It was revealed that the system of examination is producing crammers rather than developing real writing skills among students. The study recommended that the examination should include such writing tasks as should gear the education system to develop original creative writing skills among students.