ERIC Number: ED474866
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 148
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: ISBN-1-877293-21-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Classroom Assessment Practices in English and Mathematics at Years 5, 7, and 9.
Dunn, Karyn; Strafford, Ed; Marston, Chris
This study investigated current classroom assessment practices by surveying teachers in New Zealand at years 5, 7, and 9 on the assessments they use in the areas of English and mathematics, the purposes of the assessment, and the assessments that provide the most useful information. A total of 676 questionnaires were returned from 311 full primary, contributing, intermediate, composite, and secondary schools (response rate of 65%). More than half the respondents (69%) were female, and 56% had been teaching more than 10 years. In both English and mathematics the use of teacher or school developed tools and strategies was greater than the use of externally developed tools. The only externally developed tools to have high rates of use across all years were the Progressive Achievement Tests and Competition tests. In both English and mathematics, teachers in decile 1-3 schools used Competition tests significantly less. In both subject areas, assessment was used most frequently for purposes within the classroom. Less use of assessment was made for purposes outside the classroom, but when it was used, it came more often from externally developed tools. The greatest number of tools and strategies that were rated as "useful" or "very useful" by more than 50% were for teaching and learning and monitoring progress. Teachers also indicated that they received useful feedback about assessment results from a range of sources, including students, parents, other teachers, and administrators. Teacher reported that they consulted widely on issues of assessment, with 51% reporting that they used at least one type of external professional development. Most teacher reported that there was a difference in the amount of assessment they did in the two subject areas, and most reported that they did more assessment than they did 3 years ago. Only about half reported the amount as being about right, however. Six appendixes contain questionnaire responses and materials used in the study. (Contains 66 tables and 37 references.) (SLD)
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Elementary School Teachers, Foreign Countries, Intermediate Grades, Middle School Students, Middle Schools
NZCER Distribution Services, P.O. Box 3237, Wellington, NZ. Web site: http://www.nzcer.org.nz.
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Wellington.
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A