CHEMISTRY TEACHERS' ASSESSMENT LITERACY IN TURKEY

Abstract

The aim of this research was to find out the assessment literacy level of chemistry teachers in Turkey. For the purpose of the research, different types of formative assessment techniques were included in the research. This research was conducted as a case study, which is a kind of qualitative research design. The participants in the research were 12 chemistry teachers working in different high schools in Şanlıurfa, one of the largest cities in south-eastern Turkey in 2017-2018 spring term. Research data were collected with a semi-structured interview form. Content analysis was performed on the research data. According to the results, chemistry teachers did not have sufficient perception and knowledge about diagnostic and formative assessment. Chemistry teachers’ perception related to objective of formative assessment techniques was very low and it was almost unfamiliar to them. Also, chemistry teachers had little perception about how formative assessment techniques should be prepared and what is their function. Their perception related to the interpretation/scoring of the results obtained from formative assessment techniques was almost non-existent. They had serious deficiencies related to formative assessment techniques and they focused on summative assessment rather than formative assessment and related techniques in their chemistry classes. Keywords: assessment literacy (AL), chemistry teachers (CTs), formative assessment techniques (FATs), Turkey.