I WROTE, I WAS EVALUATED, AND I LEARNED AN ALTERNATIVE TEACHING PROCESS IN DISTANCE EDUCATION: WRITING-TO-LEARN

Distance education has become an essential part of life on a global scale during the COVID-19 pandemic. This process has driven all education stakeholders, who focus on providing learning outcomes without any loss, to alternative teaching models. The aim of this study is to examine the extent of the effects of writing-to-learn activities integrated into the distance education process on learning. Conducted as an action research, this study consisted of 42 Year 4 undergraduate prospective teachers studying Social Studies Teaching. A variety of writing-to-learn activities and semi-structured interview forms were used as data collection tools. While writing-to-learn activities were evaluated with holistic rubric, the opinions of prospective teachers were analyzed by content analysis. As a result, it was concluded that writing-to-learn activities included in distance education made significant contributions to the development of students throughout the application process. The activities were found effective on learning since they involved students in the process and facilitated permanent learning. It is understood from the opinions of the prospective teachers that an enjoyable and quality learning can be achieved with such activities included in the study, even from a distance. Based on the results, it can be stated that the writing-to-learn model is an alternative learning approach that can be used in distance education.

CLIL as a Balance for Female–Male Differences?

This study examines female–male differences in English writing outcomes for Taiwanese primary school learners enrolled in a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) program. Narrative and expository writing samples of 212 primary school students (Male = 103, Female = 109) in Taiwan were collected and scored using several measures including spelling accuracy, correct word sequences, lexical diversity, total t-units, and a holistic rubric for ideas. Students’ topic interest was also measured through a Likert-scale survey. The findings revealed differences between females and males and the two genres of writing. While there were statistical differences attributed to gender and topic interest variables for some writing measures, further analysis revealed that these effects were minimal in terms of practical significance. The paper raises questions about the relationship between female–male writing differences and CLIL and provides suggestions for future research to broaden our understanding and support diversity in the CLIL classroom.

Development of Assessment Instrument for Singing Skills and Playing Musical Instrument for The Music Teacher Candidates of General Schools

The competences of music teacher candidates in teaching singing practice and playing a musical instrument are needed in the teaching-learning process at general schools. Hence, the process needs a comprehensive preparation for both competences. The objective of this study is to prepare an assessment instrument of singing practice and playing a musical instrument which is needed to assess the competences of music teacher candidates. The study used mix-method approach. The combination of qualitative and quantitative is required as the two methods are interrelated for both in the process of preparing assessment instruments and testing the instrument. The instruments consist of nine assignments. The six of which are the instruments for reading melodic and rhythmic notation and the other three instruments are to assess the skills to accompany songs. Based on the result, it can be found that the coefficient of instrument reliability is 0.817 in the type of consistency definition and 0.810 in the type of absolute agreement definitions. It can be concluded that the instrument made by using the analytic rubric of coefficient the reliability is better compared to the instrument made by a holistic rubric.

Revisiting the Writing Assessment Process at a Saudi English Language Institute: Problems and Solutions

Over the past several decades, writing assessment has evolved in an ever-growing attempt to provide contextual fairness to a student while maintaining standards across a larger community. This study analyzed writing assessment at a Saudi English Language Institute (ELI) by first discussing teaching and learning in an EFL context before examining the shortcomings of current Saudi methods in assessment. A universal rubric created by the Saudi ELI allows for consistency across the program and cross-grading between teachers ensures honesty in assessment, but this rigidity leads to a lack of trust between teachers and coordinators and disallows contextual-based learning. First-hand research and literature analysis show that an analytic, rather than holistic, rubric will allow greater contextual-based learning, and that elimination of cross-grading will empower a teacher to become more directly involved with each student. These changes ultimately benefit the students, teachers, and coordinators of the program.

An Investigation of Reliability Coefficients Estimated for Decision Studies in Generalizability Theory

This research aimed to compare the G and Phi coefficients estimated in Decision studies in Generalizability theory and obtained in actual cases for the same conditions of similar facets by using crossed design. The research was conducted as pure research on 120 individuals (students), six items and 12 raters. An achievement test composed of six open ended questions and a holistic rubric developed by the researcher were used in data collection. Data analysis included obtaining the G and Phi coefficients by creating actual cases for two, four and six raters followed by D studies conducted for other actual cases with different measurement conditions to make estimates. Finally, G and Phi coefficients obtained and estimated for two, four and six raters were compared separately. Findings show that G and Phi coefficients estimated in D studies by increasing the number of raters were sometimes greater than those obtained in actual cases although they were sometimes smaller. However, it was concluded that a pattern may not always exist between the G and Phi coefficients obtained in actual cases for same number of raters and those estimated in D studies.