Studiosta steissille – Multimodaaliset kuuntelutehtävät ylioppilastutkinnon pitkien oppimäärien kielikokeissa 2018

Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin ylioppilastutkinnon kielikokeissa esiintyvien kuullunymmärtämistehtävien reiluutta ja tarkoituksenmukaisuutta. Keskityimme multimodaalisiin tehtävätyyppeihin, jotka tulivat mahdolliseksi digitaalisen ylioppilastutkinnon myötä. Aineisto käsitti englannin (n = 37086), ruotsin (n = 1626) ja saksan (n = 491) pitkien oppimäärien kokeisiin vuonna 2018 osallistuneiden kokelaiden osiokohtaiset pistemäärät, joita analysoitiin tilastollisin menetelmin. Lisäksi kyseisten kokeiden koetehtäviä ja niiden kuvauksia analysoitiin teorialähtöisellä sisällönanalyysillä. Multimodaaliset tehtävät edellyttävät kielitaidon lisäksi monilukutaitoa eli monimuotoisten tekstien ja niiden yhdistelmien tulkintaa. Eri kohderyhmien välisiä eroja tutkittaessa havaittiin joitakin eroja englannissa poikien ja ruotsinkielisten ja ruotsissa tyttöjen eduksi. Tasa-arvoisimmiksi osoittautuivat saksan kokeet. Tulokset hyödyttävät koetehtävien laatijoiden lisäksi kielten opetuksen parissa työskenteleviä. From Studio to Station – Multimodal Listening Comprehension Task Types in in Long Syllabus of Languages in Finnish Matriculation Examinations in 2018 Abstract This study addressed fairness and meaningfulness of listening comprehension tasks in the newly digitalized Finnish Matriculation Examination focusing on multimodal task types. The data comprised item scores of test takers in 2018 in long syllabus English (n = 37086), Swedish (n = 1626) and German (n = 491) and related test tasks together with task description sheets. Item scores were analyzed with statistical methods, and the task content with theory-driven content analysis. Multimodal items prerequisite multiple language-related and general competences and strategies and combinations of them. Group wise differences between investigated groups were detected in English in favour of boys and in Swedish in favor of girls, while all differences were smallest in the German tests. The results contribute to item writing and language education in general. Keywords: listening comprehension, language assessment, high-stakes tests, computer-assisted testing

What pandemic-related test waiver requests suggest about states’ testing priorities

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened tensions around standardized testing policy and prompted the United States Department of Education to allow states to request waivers from federal standardized testing requirements. Paul Bruno and Dan Goldhaber describe the waivers that states requested and received, what they suggest about how state test results might be used for different purposes and by different people, and what uses of testing seem to be most salient to policy makers. They conclude with recommendations for policy makers about how to design testing policy that can both improve educational outcomes and maintain robust political support, objectives achieved at best imperfectly by existing testing policy.

Performance study on mounting system for displacement transducer in mechanical tests of timber samples using photogrammetry method

This paper presents a unique study to reveal the effect of the mounting system of the linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) on the mechanical property tests of timber materials. This effect has been overlooked in the past but proven to be significant enough that will distort the measurements completely if the displacement is relatively small. The reason for causing this error is because the LVDT is not directly measuring targeting points on a sample, instead, the LVDT is measuring the distance between one point on the stop-end (where the tip rested on) and the holder. The wrong common sense hopes that this point on the stop-end and holder reliably following the movement of the sample points. But this study reveals that it is not always the case with the aid from the photogrammetry method. The messages of this paper are simple but alertly useful and, important: 1) the mounting system and the method of installation of the LVDTs have a significant impact on the actual displacement measurement in a mechanical properties test of timber materials. It should be carefully designed and validated before the actual test; 2) the displacement distribution is not uniform across the timber sample. This should be taken into account when selecting the mounting points of the LVDTs. Testing standards should consider this effect when recommending displacement transducers to be used in a timber-related test.

Factors that support the development of exemplary school library programs

This paper will examine a wide range of studies related to the factors that support the development of exemplary school library programs and then focus on the context for Ontario, Canada. In 2003, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (as cited in IASL, 2008) reviewed research studies to answer the question “What effects do school libraries have on student achievement?” and they concluded that “school library characteristics may account for up to 8 percent of the variance in reading-related test scores” [emphasis added] (p. 1). Consequently, it is important to identify the characteristics that make a school library exemplary although they are not always indicative of student achievement and learning.