Procesos interactivos y co-construcción de la colaboración entre tutores de universidad y escuela en un prácticum reflexivo

A Sociocultural Perspective on Assessment for Learning: The Case of a Malaysian Primary School ESL Context

Assessing students' performance in a particular context is crucial for teachers. Teachers should have enough knowledge and skill of how students construct their knowledge to enhance their learning. The study aimed to explore the pre-service teachers' understanding of assessment for learning from a sociocultural perspective. In a qualitative research design, a semistructured interview was conducted with five second-year secondary pre-service teachers studying 'Assessment for learning' as a foundation course in their B.Ed. programme. The analysis of the finding revealed that participants had minimal understanding of assessment for learning. Participants were not adequately prepared to assess students' performance in a sociocultural paradigm.

Assessment for Learning is a pedagogical practice with anticipated gains of increased student motivation, mastery and autonomy as learners develop their capacity to monitor and plan their own learning progress. Assessment for Learning (AfL) differs from Assessment of learning in its timing, occurring within the regular flow of learning rather than end point, in its purpose of improving student learning rather than summative grading and in the ownership of the learning where the student voice is heard in judging quality. Since Black and Wiliam (1998) highlighted the achievement gains that AfL practices seem to bring to all learners in classrooms, it has become part of current educational policy discourse in Australia, yet teacher adoption of the practices is not a straightforward implementation of techniques within an existing classroom repertoire. As can be seen from the following meta-analysis, recent research highlights a more complex interrelationship between teacher and student beliefs about learning and assessment, and the social and cultural interactions in and contexts of the classroom. More research is needed from a sociocultural perspective that allows meaning to emerge from practice. Before another policy push, we need to understand better the many factors within the assessment relationship. We need to hear from teachers and students through long-term AfL case studies both to inform AfL theory and to shed light on the complexities of pedagogical change for enhancing learner autonomy.

In recent times, more attention has been directed towards identifying international trends and ‘best’ practice for assessing pre-service teachers’ classroom performance. Previous attempts to assess Oman’s preservice teachers were based on adopting a psychometric/measurement assessment practice, whereby performance was measured by grades. Such an approach, in recent times, has been viewed as being fundamentally flawed in its attempts to measure pre-service teachers’ classroom practices. This is primarily due to its inability to authentically assess teacher’s learning in the classroom setting. Further underpinning this problem, is that Omani pre-service teachers are expected to undertake an International English Language Testing System (commonly referred to as IELTS), as a measurement of their English proficiency. This approach is problematic, in principle, as it is positioned after graduation and therefore forms no connection to the pre-service teachers’ school experience nor does it add to quality teaching and assessment. This recent shift in thinking, as to the idea that educational assessment should be based on psychometric measurements and grades, has evolved into assessment practices which encourage the integration of assessment into the learning and teaching environment. This thesis is concerned with how the pre-service English Language teacher’s classroom performance is assessed in Oman. Drawing on the work of Gipps (1999, 2002), this thesis adopted a sociocultural perspective to investigate the phenomenon of assessment practices associated with evaluating pre-service teacher’s classroom performance during school-based professional experience (also known as teaching practicum). Understanding assessment practices from a sociocultural perspective and its current practices such as authentic assessment and Assessment for Learning (AfL) assists pre-service teachers to learn so as to become professional, qualified teachers. To achieve the aims of this study, the thesis adopted a qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology approach to investigate the assessment phenomenon and to gain a deep understanding from the key stakeholders involved in the phenomenon. To enable this, the data collected from three higher education institutions, namely Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Rustaq-College of Applied Sciences (CAS) and Nizwa University and their participating schools. A range of different data sources obtained: assessment texts which position pre-service English Language teachers; three-series of interviews with the different stakeholders: three pre-service teachers, three cooperating teachers and four university supervisors to reveal their experiences; and observing the phenomenon in situ to triangulate with the aforementioned data. Implementing hermeneutic phenomenology, the obtained data analysed using two approaches: Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) so that the existing practices for assessing pre-service English language teachers’ classroom performance in Oman were captured. The analyses revealed that each institution has its assessment practices influenced by its socio-political structure, yet SQU, unlike Rustaq-CAS and Nizwa University, is distinguished in relation to its pre-determined set of professional standards for graduating teachers; explicit assessment criteria that are shared and discussed with pre-service teachers; collaboration between all stakeholders in the assessment process; a clearly defined role for the cooperating teacher as mentor; effective feedback provided to the pre-service teacher; using portfolios to record and document the pre-service teachers achievements; and effective self- and peer-assessment strategies. These practices are mostly experienced by stakeholders at SQU due to its international accreditation under the influence of the standards based on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The findings suggest that SQU assessment practices are more aligned with the indicators of international best practice, compared to that of Rustaq-CAS and Nizwa University. Similarly, SQU had a better understanding of assessment practices from a sociocultural perspective. This means that within the context of assessing pre-service teachers’ classroom performance in Oman, the findings are not about each higher education institution but about producing quality teacher graduates by reforming the Omani assessment practices. Having SQU as a model in Oman, the key recommendations for policy and practice from this study are to: 1) set a national professional standards for teachers; 2) have explicit assessment criteria that align with the professional standards; 3) share the assessment criteria for success between all stakeholders in the phenomenon; 4) strengthen the collaboration between schools and universities as well as university supervisors and cooperating teachers,5) make the role of the portfolio more explicit in terms of monitoring and enhancing pre-service teacher development and learning; 6) empower the cooperating teacher to provide a more meaningful mentoring role to pre-service teachers; 7) provide explicit training in effective peer and self-assessment strategies for pre-service teachers in the classroom context and 8) provide explicit training in understanding and delivering quality feedback on classroom performance for all stakeholders.

Why is assessment of student learning important? The National Science Education Standards chapter on Assessment in Science Education states that assessment is “primary feedback” [1]. Assessment of learning supplies instructors with feedback on how well their students are learning course material, and students are provided information about how well they are meeting teachers’ expectations. Assessment of learning is useful for communicating the expectations of an educational program. Communication helps instructors know what to teach, how to teach, and where to find the material to teach. Assessment of student learning can also be used for program planning and improvement. For example, placement tests can be used as advising tools. Student work, in the form of portfolios, might serve as partial evidence of the quality of an undergraduate chemistry program. In summary, assessment of learning can provide information to: Students, about the extent of their learning and possibilities for success in future courses. Faculty, about the extent to which their teaching practices are facilitating student learning, and how they might make modifications to those practices. Administrators and other stakeholders, about course articulation, program effectiveness, and what students are able to do as they complete a program. A comprehensive literature review about assessing learning in K-12 science education has examined assessment of learning techniques as well as policy-related issues [2].

M easurement community, be careful what you wish for.

The intent of this chapter is to show language educators how possible it is to integrate innovative English as a lingua franca (ELF)-based language activities, such as collaborative creative writing and intercultural telecollaboration, into the English syllabus, in spite of the fact that the dominant pedagogical model in mainstream English language teaching is still firmly rooted in native-speakerism. This approach, which is based on a sociocultural perspective on language learning, aims at developing pedagogic practices that may respond to the challenge of language variation and change posed by the spread of English as the primary lingua franca in the age of globalization. Two research projects are presented in this study, whereby groups of volunteer high-school students from different languacultural backgrounds were interconnected via the Internet to create two communities of practice (CoPs). In this way, learners were involved in authentic intercultural communication and used ELF as an affordance to mediate meanings and carry out their tasks cooperatively. Several cases of participants’ nonstandard lexicogrammar items are analyzed in this chapter to show, for example, how cross-linguistic transfer from the learners’ mother tongue and creativity, two typical features of ELF, did not affect mutual intelligibility but rather allowed learners to communicate and fulfill their pragmatic goals. The chapter discusses fundamental issues concerning ELF-aware language education, such as the role of native-speaker language models, the assessment of learners’ ELF performance, and the role of the language teacher. Finally, it provides a teaching/learning activity model based on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT) that can be implemented in the English classroom.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of student learning and character assessment. The assessment of student learning has been focus more on mastery of material, but less attention to aspects of character. Whereas in education has two dimensions of purpose, namely to be smart and good morals. Intelligence has related to cognitive, while character has related to affective. Through this study, has expected to obtain a model of assessment that involves cognitive and affective aspects in an integrated manner. The method of study has done in compiling the article through literature study, i.e. studying the theory or opinion relating to student learning assessment. Based on this study, it concluded that: (1) Assessment of learning and character carried out independently. (2) Teachers face constraints assessing the character of students. (3) There are a number of interventions to the teacher's assessment; (4) Collaborative assessment of learning and character makes it easier for teachers and schools to make responsible decisions. (5) Assessment of learning has a positive implication on the formation of student character or otherwise.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of student learning and character assessment. The assessment of student learning has been focus more on mastery of material, but less attention to aspects of character. Whereas in education has two dimensions of purpose, namely to be smart and good morals. Intelligence has related to cognitive, while character has related to affective. Through this study, has expected to obtain a model of assessment that involves cognitive and affective aspects in an integrated manner. The method of study has done in compiling the article through literature study, i.e. studying the theory or opinion relating to student learning assessment. Based on this study, it concluded that: (1) Assessment of learning and character carried out independently. (2) Teachers face constraints assessing the character of students. (3) There are a number of interventions to the teacher's assessment; (4) Collaborative assessment of learning and character makes it easier for teachers and schools to make responsible decisions. (5) Assessment of learning has a positive implication on the formation of student character or otherwise.

As a crucial feature of assessment for learning (AfL), questioning technique plays an important part in student learning. In an AfL classroom, questioning technique is not merely a pedagogical tool to elicit evidence of students’ understanding but also a means to improve their understanding. Effective classroom questioning underpins AfL; However, research into AfL raises significant doubt about the efficiency of teachers’ questioning during AfL especially in Malaysian primary schools where AfL is still in its infancy. The current study illuminates the process of classroom questioning during AfL in a Malaysian primary school ESL context. This qualitative case study was conducted in a selected primary school around Selangor, Malaysia. Three ESL teachers teaching in the selected school took part in the study. In order to collect data, twenty periods of each teacher’s classroom were observed. Then, interview was conducted with each individual teacher. Interviews and observations were tape-recorded verbatim and transcribed for further analysis. The results indicated that the low-cognitive level of questioning techniques and strategies were utilized by the three teachers. Many findings of this study point to the fact that teachers are still practicing teacher-centered syllabus. The results of the current study showed that the traditional concept of questioning was maintained and classroom questioning did not seem to fulfill the promise of enhancing learner autonomy which is the focus of AfL. The students were not encouraged to ask questions and engage in self-reflection. Many of them were silent oftentimes during classroom questioning and questions were usually answered by a specific group of students or the teachers themselves. Recommendations were made based on the results of the study.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended.Introduction: Direct observation assessments that provide both formative feedback and data for summative decisions can be difficult to achieve. The mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) is a widely used tool of direct observation that provides opportunities for feedback. We introduced a direct observation system with frequent mini-CEXs to increase clerkship student learning opportunities and to improve competency-based summative decisions. However, students may express resistance to assessments for learning with any summative impact as they may perceive the assessments as purely a series of summative evaluations.Aims: We explored how frequent low-stakes mini-CEXs affect clerkship students’ perception of learning and to understand student perceptions of these assessments supporting their end-of-rotation summative clinical performance evaluations.Methods: This qualitative study used a purposive sampling strategy of focus groups with students who completed multiple mini-CEXs during their four-week neurology clerkship at one of three sites. All eleven students chose to participate. Eight students completed eight mini-CEXs, two students completed seven, and one student completed four. Investigator triangulation was used with interpretation comparisons that included independent content analysis. The emerging themes were discussed and final theme consensus was reached.Results: Three major themes arose: perceived effects of frequent mini-CEXs for clerkship student learning by facilitating multiple opportunities for guided practice under low assessment anxiety; the importance of consistent, effective faculty feedback and engagement to maximize mini-CEXs for learning; and support for summative impact of frequent, mainly formative, low stakes mini-CEXs.Conclusions: Students perceived that frequent mini-CEXs are mainly formative assessments for learning while having summative impact. However, variable perceived faculty affinity and engagement with the mini-CEX are important considerations to maximize the assessments for learning. These findings support a shift towards workplace-based assessment programs for learning that promote frequent direct observation and feedback, while also improving the trustworthiness of summative decisions.

Formative assessment is essential for improving student learning. Formative assessment research has predominantly used cognitive learning theories. In this dissertation study, I used sociocultural learning perspectives to understand how formative assessment supported student learning during interaction and how it empowered students. This dissertation included three manuscripts. The first manuscript was a conceptual study. I developed a new formative assessment cycle that was built on sociocultural perspectives and prior formative assessment cycles. The model included four steps: building community, monitoring community, community mediation, and redefining goals. These steps were described in detail with examples, and the roles of the teacher, learners, and peers were discussed. Future researchers may potentially use the model to understand formative assessment practices. Practicing teachers and teacher educators may benefit from the provided examples for classroom implementation of the model. In the empirical part of the dissertation, Chapter Three and Chapter Four, the participant teacher, who was a high school physics teacher, was selected from teachers that had been actively using iPads in their classrooms. This study was conducted at a public high school in the Midwest United States that had a diverse student population. Data were collected across eighteen class sessions. Primary data sources included video recorded observation of class sections, iPad applications, and teacher interviews. Supporting secondary sources included pictures taken during observations, lesson plans, assessment examples, student-works, and student interviews. In the second manuscript, I examined a high school physics teacher's technology enhanced classroom to understand the impact of technology on the teacher's formative assessment practices, and how the iPad influenced the formative assessment process, by using sociocultural learning perspectives. The participant teacher's formative assessment practices were described (members, tools, and classroom norms). Results showed that influences of the iPad on the formative assessment process were: 1) transforming classroom community, 2) empowering students, and 3) facilitating evidence-based discussions. This study shed light on: the impact of technology use on the teacher's formative assessment practice, how the impact rebuilt the classroom norms, and how technology use impacted student identity development. In the third manuscript, I focused on the most important aspect of formative assessment - feedback. I examined how well iPad applications (apps) supported providing feedback. Then, I compared the app affordances with teacher practice. To enable analysis of data, I enhanced Hatzipanagos and Warburton's (2009) feedback dimensions. Analysis revealed app diversity in supporting different feedback dimensions, and the teacher, through additional discussion and interactions with students, was able to support dimensions that an app did not. The provided examples of app affordances and teacher practices may be beneficial to prospective and practicing teachers. Application designers may benefit from this study towards improving their apps to support effective feedback.

Malaysia and Indonesia are implementing their own education system in developing their human resources for nation development. This paper discusses the systems in the countries limited to the main framework of education namely the philosophy of education; curriculum and its implementation; and assessment of students learning. From the philosophy of education point of view, divinity is the underlying aspect of education in Malaysia as well as in Indonesia, with students as the subject of education. Students of today are future human capital for the nation. Therefore education is necessary to develop students' natural potential to produce individuals who are intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically balanced and harmonious in line with the purpose of the human existence as inheritors of the earth. From the curriculum point of view, both countries are implementing a standard curriculum which is integrated and dynamic parallel with current needs and global challenges. The content of the curriculum includes knowledges, skills and values with innovations from time to time dynamically. From the aspect of students' learning, the quality of process and the quality of learning outcomes are based on competencies. The assessment of learning does not just focus to final examination results but also ensures the quality of students’ learning process. Generally, it is undeniable that there are some similarities between the two countries in developing their human resources through education. On a positive note, the similarities should be viewed in terms of the benefit to both countries. As the global challenges keep on changing, one day it might become ideas to have mutual collaborations between the two countries in generating higher quality of human resources through education.

This research study explored barriers and facilitators to collaboration between National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) psychologists, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs), and Senior Leadership Teams (SLT) in Irish post-primary schools (students aged between 12 and 18 years). NEPS’ role in facilitating collaboration is uncertain, exacerbated by the absence of policy outlining the SENCO role and tensions between special and inclusive education. It is unclear what the experiences of collaboration between NEPS psychologists and post-primary schools might be within this nebulous policy context. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used, framed by Dynamic Systems Theory. Participants were NEPS psychologists, SENCOs, and SLT. Phase 1 involved an online survey (n = 278), which identified barriers and facilitators to collaboration and informed Phase 2. This paper presents Phase 2, comprising semi-structured interviews (n = 9). Interviews were analysed using multi-perspectival interpretative phenomenological analysis, facilitating experiential exploration of collaboration between NEPS, SLT, and SENCOs. Participants described the experience of transitioning from working in silos to collaborative hubs. Systemic and interpersonal factors facilitated deliberate construction of evolving, dynamic, collaborative spaces between post-primary schools and NEPS. Policy gaps arise regarding consultation, collaboration, special education, and inclusion. This research begins to clarify the varied ways in which practice occurs in these gaps and indicates ways in which NEPS psychologists can collaborate with SENCOs and SLT to create active, effective hubs of knowledge to support students.

For those involved in supporting and educating children with traumatic brain injury, the interface between health care and education is complex. This paper reports the findings of a study exploring how teachers of children with traumatic brain injury experience collaboration with health-care professionals. A phenomenological approach was used to understand teachers' experience of collaboration. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with five teachers who taught children with traumatic brain injury in a regional area of Australia. The findings revealed that the experience of collaboration for teachers is characterised by moving through three national spaces (starting out in the interactive space, moving into a collaborative space and embracing the collaborative space). As they move through these spaces, teachers widen their self-sufficient practice horizon to develop reciprocity with health-care professionals. The findings from this study highlight a need for health-care professionals to be sensitive to, and aware of, teachers' familiarity with interdisciplinary collaboration, issues related to knowledge differentials and time constraints.