16/03/2023
𝗨𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
As educators, we know that assessment is a crucial part of the learning process. It helps us determine our students' strengths and weaknesses, which then allows us to tailor our teaching strategies to better meet their needs.
Assessment results are an essential component of evidence-based decision-making in education. By analyzing assessment data, educators can make informed decisions about their teaching strategies, curriculum, and classroom practices. By using assessment data to inform our decision-making, we can ensure that our teaching strategies and classroom practices are effective and targeted to our students' learning needs.
The performance of Filipino students in international assessments has been a topic of concern for many years. According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures the performance of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematics, and science, the Philippines has consistently ranked near the bottom of the list among participating countries.
While the results of these assessments are often taken at face value, it is important to consider the context in which they were taken. Many Filipino students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and face numerous challenges, including poverty, lack of access to quality education, and inadequate resources. These factors can have a significant impact on their performance in assessments.
Furthermore, some educators and researchers have pointed out that the format of international assessments, which heavily rely on multiple-choice questions, may not be well-suited to the learners’ classroom experience.
As I have observed in my own classroom, many students got low scores in the multiple-choice questions part of the test, even when they have a good understanding of the underlying concepts being tested.
This suggests that there may be a disconnect between the assessment format and the students' learning experiences.
Based on my own experience when I moved into a barrio school, I have observed that many of my students struggle with multiple-choice questions, even when in other test types like free-response items, they were able to demonstrate understanding of the concept. However, when the same concept is expressed in the form of a multiple-choice question, they failed to get the correct answer. And I believe that this is not unique to my students.
I suspect that this was due to a lack of exposure to this type of test and to their difficulties in processing textual information.
To address this, I implemented the following tips to help my students improve their performance in MCQs:
1. Provide explicit instruction on how to approach and answer multiple-choice questions.
2. Teach students to eliminate obviously incorrect answers before choosing the best option.
3. Encourage students to read the question and all the answer choices carefully before selecting an answer.
4. Provide practice questions with immediate feedback to help students identify their mistakes and reinforce their learning.
5. Vary the difficulty level of the questions to help students develop the skills to approach different types of questions.
Aside from MCQs, I also noticed that my students were struggling with short essay questions, with some of them simply copying random sentences from the text.
To address this, I focused on teaching them how to extract information from texts and other media, such as videos and presentations. I provided activities that allowed them to practice extracting information and using it to answer questions. I also provided models of well-structured short essay answers and taught them how to organize their thoughts and ideas in response to a question.
In addition to the above, here are some tips that can help improve students' skills in answering short essay questions:
1. Teach students how to extract information from texts and other media to answer questions.
2. Provide models of well-structured short essay answers and teach them how to organize their thoughts and ideas in response to a question. (I created a Q and A format out of the text to serve as their model.)
3. Emphasize the importance of supporting their answers with relevant and specific examples from the text.
4. Encourage students to read the question carefully and to ensure that their answer is directly addressing the question.
5. Provide opportunities for students to practice writing short essays and to receive feedback on their writing to improve their skills.
Overall, by implementing these strategies, we can help our students improve their performance in both MCQs and short essays, while also developing important skills that they can use in their academic and personal lives. It's important to be open-minded and adaptable in our approach and to continuously assess and evaluate our students' progress to ensure that we are providing them with the best possible learning experience.
While it is true that teaching for learning should be our primary focus, it is also important to recognize that assessments play a key role in measuring student progress and understanding. By exposing students to various assessment formats, we can help them develop the skills and strategies they need to succeed in different contexts, whether it be multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, essays, or other formats.
However, we should also be careful not to become too focused on teaching for the test or assessment. While assessments are important, they should be seen as a means to an end, rather than an end in themselves. Our ultimate goal as educators should be to help students develop a love of learning and a passion for acquiring knowledge, not just to help them pass a particular test or exam.
Therefore, while it is important to expose students to various assessment formats, we should always prioritize teaching for learning and focus on developing the skills and attitudes that will help students succeed in all areas of their lives, not just in the context of a particular assessment or test.
18/10/2024
02/10/2024
08/01/2024
05/01/2024
04/01/2024
16/03/2023