Essay-type Test Research Articles

The Impact of the Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) Instructional Model on Biodiversity Topics to Enhance Students' Argumentation Skills

This study aims to investigate the impact of Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI)-based biology instruction on students' argumentation skills in the context of biodiversity. The research is classified as a quasi-experimental study using a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design. The independent variable in this study is the implementation of the Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) instructional model. The population of this study comprises all tenth-grade students at SMAN 5 Padang. The sample consists of two classes, with Class X IPA 1 selected as the experimental group and Class X IPA 2 as the control group. Data on students' argumentation skills were collected using essay-type tests. The data analysis techniques employed include the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, Independent Sample t-test, and Effect Size test. The results indicate that the use of the Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) instructional model positively influences the improvement of students' argumentation skills on the topic of biodiversity. This implies that students successfully achieved the targeted learning objectives using the ADI model.

CRITICAL THINKING AND BIOLOGICAL LITERACY: RELATIONSHIP WITH CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF PLANT TISSUE

Biology learning currently requires students to have critical thinking ability and biological literacy so that they can improve conceptual understanding. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between critical thinking ability and biological literacy in conceptual understanding of plant tissue. This research method is quantitative descriptive research using a correlational study. The research sample used 92 students from SMA Negeri 37 Jakarta. critical thinking ability instrument uses essay type test with 24 questions, biological literacy uses multiple choice type test with 10 questions and concept mastery is a multiple-choice type test with 30 questions. In variable showed that the fifth indicator was the lowest in critical thinking, biological literacy was the lowest in the nominal dimension, and mastery of concepts corresponded to the difficulty of the cognitive level of the questions. The results of hypothesis testing show that there is a positive and linear correlation between critical thinking ability and biological literacy with conceptual understanding of plant tissue. Multiple linear regression model Multiple linear regression model Ŷ = 13.077 + 0.399X1 + 0.413X2. Critical thinking ability and biological literacy contribute 33.5% to conceptual understanding. Critical thinking skills and biological literacy have a positive relationship but with different strengths and levels of contribution to the mastery of plant tissue concepts.

Texts and Tasks in Indonesian Language Textbooks: Do They Support Indonesian Students in the International Reading Literacy Test?

Several international tests on reading literacy consistently showed poor scores for Indonesian students. Textbooks are one of the teaching tools that can contribute to the development of students’ reading literacy. However, no research has examined textbooks’ capacity to develop students’ reading literacy skills, especially those assessed on international tests. The current study investigated the carrying capacity of texts and tasks in Indonesian language textbooks to develop students’ reading literacy skills, particularly those evaluated on international tests. The data were obtained from six Indonesian language textbooks used by junior and senior high school students in Indonesia. These textbooks are officially recommended by the government and are widely used in middle schools in Indonesia. The content analysis combined with the performance framework in the International Student Assessment was used to reveal the text and task dimensions of the Indonesian Language textbooks. The results of the study show that in the aspect of text, textbooks have conformity with the international test, but are weak in infographics which are not problematic. Likewise, the underlying contexts of the texts are not evenly distributed. In the task aspect, the dominant cognitive processes are to search for and locate information, but are limited in understanding, evaluating, and reflecting on the contents of the text. The response format is dominated by essay-type tests that do not adequately account for objective tests. From this, it can be concluded that the texts and tasks of the Indonesian textbooks do not correspond to the texts and tasks of the international reading literacy tests. This study recommends the need for adjustments in establishing guidelines for developing and evaluating textbooks to develop students’ reading literacy at the international level.

The Tri Kaya Parisudha-Based SFAE Learning Model Has A Positive Impact on Fifth-Grade Students' Science Knowledge Competencies

Learning that takes place, especially science subjects, is different from the mandate of the 2013 curriculum. The science knowledge competence of elementary school students still needs to improve. This study aims to analyze the effect of the SFAE learning model based on Tri Kaya Parisudha on students' science knowledge competence. This type of research is a quasi-experiment using a nonequivalent control group design. The population of this study was all grade V students, as many as 443 students, with sample determination using a cluster random sampling technique. The data collection method used an essay-type test. The research data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques and inferential statistical analysis (t-test). The results of hypothesis testing using the t-test technique with polled variance formula obtained a t-count equal to 4.67 more than the t-table equal to 1.998 at a 5% significance level with dk equal to 63, so Ha is accepted, and H0 is rejected. So it is concluded that the SFAE learning model based on Tri Kaya Parisudha affects students' science knowledge competence. This research implies that the SFAE learning model based on Tri Kaya Parisudha is expected to be an innovative learning model to encourage student activeness and improve learning outcomes.

EFFECTS OF TEXT MESSAGING ON THE ACADEMIC WRITING OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS OF A GHANAIAN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of text messaging on the academic writing of first-year pre-service teachers of Offinso College of Education. Empirical studies on the use of text messages in specific cultures were reviewed in order to demonstrate how the present study is both similar to and different from previous research. Descriptive survey research design was employed by the researchers to conduct this study. The student population for the study was 350. Quota sampling and simple random sampling techniques aided the researchers to select 50 pre-service teachers for the study. The instruments used were questionnaires, interviews and essay-type tests. The study revealed that the vocabulary items students used in their SMS texting contained numbers, reduction, clipping and shortening, and that the use of these vocabulary items had a negative effect because these items found their way into the academic writing of students. The researchers recommend that college tutors should sensitize the pre-service teachers on the need to avoid SMS language in their academic writings to help them overcome the menace. To curtail everything, they should text using Standard English to avoid being addicted to texting language.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0017/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

HOTS-Oriented e-Project-Based Learning: Improving 4C Skills and Science Learning Outcome of Elementary School Students

Overcoming elementary students learning loss during the pandemic Covid-19 through implementing an online project-based learning model has been taken into account. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the high-order thinking skills oriented online project-based learning (HOTS-oriented E-PjBL) tools for improving 4C skills and science learning outcomes of fourth-grade elementary students. A quasi-experimental design with a post-test control group design was implemented. The samples were 301 pupils consisting of 149 experimental class students and 152 in the control group. The learning outcome data were collected through an essay-type test. The observation sheet was used to measure 4C’s skills. The data were analyzed by using the inferential statistical analysis of MANOVA. The results showed an effect of the HOTS-oriented E-PjBL tools on improving 4C skills and science learning outcomes simultaneously and partially. Another finding was that the HOTS-oriented E-PjBL tools affected 21st-century skills more than the science learning outcomes. Thus, HOTS-oriented E-PjBL is recommended to improve students’ 4C skills and science learning outcomes in elementary schools.

An Analysis of Students’ Computational Thinking Skills on The Number Patterns Lesson during The Covid-19 Pandemic

The development of the education curriculum in Indonesia makes students must have skills so that they can compete globally, especially in the 21st century. The development is closely related to technology and information. One of skills that support the development of technology and information is the <em>computational thinking</em> skills. This study aims to analyze students’ <em>computational thinking</em> skills on the number patterns lesson during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study was qualitative-descriptive research with the subjects of 4 students from 8th grade in Makassar. The instruments used in this study were a test of the <em>computational thinking</em> skills in the form of essay type test on the number patterns lesson and interview guidance. The results of this study indicated that all subjects met the first indicator of problem decomposition and one subject met the second indicator of problem decomposition, all subjects met the indicator of pattern recognition, three subjects met the indicator of abstraction and generalization, all subjects met the first indicator of algorithmic thinking and two subjects met the second indicator of algorithmic thinking on <em>computational thinking</em> skills. Thus, students’ <em>computational thinking</em> skills during the Covid-19 pandemic were still low, so an educational framework is needed to improve students’ <em>computational thinking</em> skills.

Teaching strategies and its influence on students’ English writing skills at Secondary School Certificate

Teaching strategies perform a great role in students’ learning at every level of education. This paper presents achievement in English writing skills and the practices of teaching used by teachers. Sequential explanatory design was chosen for this study. Sample was selected from private schools of Lahore city offering SSC. Four private schools were selected through simple random sampling technique. In each school one section of SSC was selected as sample. Students and teachers of the selected classes were included in sample. Research instruments comprised of test and interview protocol. Essay type test was developed and administered to measure the English writing skills of students. Test was developed by using intended learning outcomes of curriculum of English language. Criteria for developing rubrics for scoring of test was based on the student learning outcomes from curriculum of SSC. Interviews were conducted to explore the teaching strategies for developing writing skills. Findings revealed that teachers of SSC mostly use lecture questioning, feedback, self-review and pair work for developing writing skills. They rely on textbook as an important resource. They do not give emphasis on student centered methods for teaching writing because it takes much time.

Development and Validation of the Mathematics Test for Tenth Grade Jordanian Students, According to the Partial Credit Model

The study aimed at developing and validating the mathematics test for 10th –grade students according to the Rasch partial credit model (PCM) by using the descriptive approach as it is appropriate for the study aims. To achieve the study's objective, what constructed the essay type test consisted of 25 items based on the (IRT) according to the Rasch PCM. what conducted the first administration of the test to verify the validity and reliability of the test. To verify the "face validity" of the test's objectives, they were presented to a group of 12 arbitrators who work as teachers and educational supervisors. They found that the contents are representative of the level of the goal, which is pursuing in theory. The empirical reliability was calculated for the test, where the value of person reliability reached 0.91. Moreover, the items reached 0.93. The study population consisted of all 10th-grade students at the schools belonging to the “Directorate of Education of Irbid District,” whose numbers were 7365, represented by 3612 male students, and 3753 female students. According to the class regarding their sex (gender), a sample according to a cluster as the test unit was the class section. The sample size of the study was 250 male and female students. According to the PCM, this study's findings have brought several issues concerning the mathematics subject achievement by verifying the tests and reliability and accomplishing the IRT's suppositions.

Development of Creative Writing Assessment Test at Elementary School Level

Creative writing assessment test helps teachers in identifying the writing ability of students, which is planned to enhance students understanding of writing. The main aim of the research was to develop an assessment test for the students of elementary school to check three concepts as descriptive, narrative and persuasive in writing. The methodology for constructing an assessment test comprises three main phases. The validity of the developed test was ensured by five experts, including three school teachers and two educational experts. The reliability of the test was checked by using item analysis, using two soft wares. For pilot testing of the developed instrument, 62 students of elementary school were selected. After pilot testing, the test was finalized, containing 6 items of essay type test. Findings of standardized test enable English teachers to comprehend the weak areas of students. More tests using other concepts can be developed to know the feeble areas of the students.

ANALISIS KEMAMPUAN LITERASI MATEMATIS SISWA KELAS VIII MTs NEGERI KUPANG

This research aims to find out the mathematical literacy skills of grade VIII students of MTs Kupang State School Year 2019/2020. This type of research is descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The subjects of the study were 30 students grade MTs Kupang State School Year 2019/2020. The object of this research is the mathematical literacy ability of students grade MTs Kupang State School Year 2019/2020. Data collection techniques with tests using essay tests. Instruments used in research are essay type tests, interviews and documentation. The data analysis techniques used are three, namely, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Test the validity of the data in this study using triangulation techniques. From the results of the study shows that the results of the calculation of the percentage of students who are able to reach KKM as much as 40% while students who do not reach KKM as much as 60%, thus it is concluded that the mathematical literacy ability of grade MTs Kupang state is still low because in this class there are still many students who are weak on formulating and planning strategies in solving problems.

Effect of Regular Classroom Tests on Learning and Understanding of Concepts in Chemistry

This study employed regular classroom tests as an intervention to help students learn and understand the concepts periodicity and chemical bonds in chemistry. The participants of the study were thirty four second year science students at Swedru Senior High School in the Central Region of Ghana. These students were taught for eight weeks and at the end of each week made to take an essay-type test on the concepts they have learnt within the week and the previous weeks. Questions asked were constructed with increasing cognitive demand to challenge students to reason and apply the principles learnt in solving them. Descriptive feedback in the form of written comments was provided against any incorrect responses which did not reflect understanding of concepts learnt. These strategies adopted improved the performance of students in the weekly tests as most of the responses students provided in the weekly tests reflected understanding of the concepts learnt. The regular classroom tests made students revised their notes throughout the term and hence improved their performance in chemistry.

Creative Thinking Skills of Students on Harmonic Vibration using Model Student Facilitator and Explaining (SFAE)

This study aims to determine the implementation of learning by applying the Student Facilitator And Explaining (SFAE) model and the improvement of students' creative thinking skills on the topic of harmonic vibration. The method used in this study is pre-experimental with one-group pretest-posttest design. The samples of this study were students of class X MIA 4 SMA Karya Pembangunan I Ciaparay with a total of 30 students. The sample was chosen by random sampling technique. The field observation sheet instrument was used to observe the implementation of the SFAE model. An essay type test was given in order to measure students' creative thinking skills. This study discovers that the average implementation score of teacher’s activity was 83% which belongs to the good category and the students’ activity was 79% which belongs to the good category. The Improvement of students’ creative thinking skills based on normalized gain was 0.56 which belongs to the medium category. Hypothesis testing used was paired sample t-test with the results of t-count (36.06) t-table (2.052). This result means that the SFAE model can be used as an alternative for improving students' creative thinking skills for the topic of harmonic vibration. Thus, implementation of the SFAE model can improve students' higher order thinking skills. The SFAE model can also be implemented for learning on other physics topics at various levels of education

THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT AND LEARNING STYLE ON STUDENTS’ WRITING COMPETENCY

This experiment study aims at investigating the effect of collaborative assessment and learning style on students’ writing competency of eleventh grade students of SMAN 1 Kuta. To conduct this research, 92 students were selected as the sample. The design of this research was 2x2 factorial design. Data of writing competency were collected by an instrument called posttest which is essay type test, meanwhile learning style data were collected by questionnaire. The acquired data were analyzed statistically by two way ANOVA and Tukey test. This research discovers: 1) there is a significant effect of collaborative assessment on students’ writing competency, 2) there is a significant interaction effect of assessment type (collaborative and conventional assessments) and learning style (field dependent and independent) on students’ writing competency, 3) collaborative assessment affects significantly on field dependent students’ writing competency, and 4) collaborative assessment does not affect significantly on field independent students’ writing competency.

Pengaruh Model Pembelajaran Langsung Berbantuan Media Laboratorium Terhadap Kreatifitas Fisika Siswa SMA

This research aims to investigate the influence of direct instruction model with virtual laboratory media toward student creativity in physics using "pretest-posttest control group design". The creativity data collected by essay type test shows that pre-test average grade of experimental class is 41 and control class is 36, while post-test average grade of experimental class is 74 and control class is 69. Based on data analysis, creativity of male student in physics is higher than female student. The average grade of male student is 72 while female student is 70. The result of hypothesis testing using polled variance t-test with significance level of 5 % is tcalculation=> ttable = 1,99601 or, in other words, the calculated t value is greater than the value given in the table. It can be concluded that direct instruction model with virtual laboratory media influences high school student creativity in physics.

Performance on a Triangulated Reading Test Battery: A Study of Language Learners’ Individual Differences and Retrospective Perceptions

Individual differences, as a source of test bias, intertwine with systematic variance in test scores. In this study, we explored second language (L2) learners’ performance on a triangulated test battery (with varied subtests and item types) in relation to a number of individual differences. Later through a retrospective task, we obtained learners’ attitudes and preferences toward the most appropriate test method. The study followed a 4 (psycholinguistic mechanisms as predictors) × 3 (test methods as criterion variable 1) × 2 (item types as criterion variable 2) factorial design. The data were collected from a cohort of college-level students using the group embedded figures test, willingness to communicate (WTC) scale, Michigan proficiency test, and a reading comprehension test battery. We found that (a) field independency and a high WTC significantly determine performance on multiple-choice and short-answer tests, (b) proficiency and word size are significant predictors of essay-type test performance, (c) WTC and field independency are significant predictors of inferential knowledge, and (d) success in display items was not significantly correlated with any of the given variables. The retrospective task revealed that a meaningfully higher percentage of the participants favor multiple-choice questions over essay-type and short-answer tests. A plausible conclusion was offered by arguing that while success in controlled and receptive tests is more associated with such personality attributes as self-confidence, analytic style, risk taking, learning styles, and motivation, productive and open-ended tasks primarily call for linguistic skills and a good command of L2 proficiency.

Perception of primary teachers on English essay type tests

Perception of primary teachers on English essay type tests

A Psychological Model of Translation Quality Assessment: Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives to Grade English Texts

The present study explored the possibility of grading English texts based on the psychological processes a non-native English translator might go through by applying Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Cognitive Domain. The researchers’ primary assumption was that the difficulty of English texts would increase as the translator’s performance proceeds from translating an English text that requires their only language Knowledge through the texts requiring increasing demands of their Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Aynthesis and Evaluation abilities. To the researchers, the quality of the translation performance could be assessed based on the type of psychological processing they conduct in translating a given text. To fulfil the ultimate purpose of the research, 30 undergraduate students majoring in English translation at Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran took part in this investigation in 2012. In addition to Comprehensive English Language Test (CELT), the participants were given a translation essay-type test that included six short English passages of 150 to 200 words. The texts were carefully graded based on the type of behavioural objectives (i.e., psychological processes) demanded of the translator and listed according to the hierarchy of Bloom’s cognitive domain. A non-parametric test of Kruskal Wallis proved that except for the fifth level, the Synthesis text, the trainee translators’ quality of performance was graded properly based on the difficulty levels expected and explored in Bloom’s levels of cognitive domain. The findings in this study are considerately practical in translation quality assessment, upgrading the reliability estimate of translation tests and teaching translation skills and strategies.

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION AND ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION ON STUDENTS’ WRITING COMPETENCY

This experimental study aims at investigating the effect of Differentiated Instruction and achievement motivation on students’ writing competency of tenth grade students of SMAN 2 Denpasar. The design of this research was 2x2 factorial design. Data of students’ writing competency were collected by using an essay type test. Meanwhile, data of students’ achievement motivation level were collected by using questionnaire. The acquired data were analyzed statistically by two way ANOVA and Tukey test. This research discovers: 1) there is a significant difference in writing competency between the students taught with Differentiated Instruction and those taught with conventional method, 2) there is no significant difference in writing competency between the students having low achievement motivation taught with different instruction and those taught with conventional method, 3) there is a significant difference in writing competency between the students having high achievement motivation taught with Differentiated Instruction and those taught with conventional method, and 4) there is a significant interaction effect of teaching method (Differentiated Instruction and conventional method) and achievement motivation level (high and low levels) on students’ writing competency. Keywords: differentiated instruction, achievement motivation, writing competency

THE EFFECT OF PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND STUDENTS’ PERCEIVED LEARNING DISCIPLINE TOWARD THE WRITING COMPETENCY OF THE ELEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS OF SMAN 5 MATARAM IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2012/2013

ABSTRACT This experimental study aims at investigating the effect of Project Based Learning (PBL) and students’ perceived learning discipline on students’ writing competency of the eleventh grade students of SMAN 5 Mataram. PBL is a teaching method which underlies on project given to the students. Besides teaching method, learning discipline is taken into account because it is predicted can affect the students’ achievement in learning foreign language. This research involved three type variables, namely: teaching method as independent variable, learning discipline as moderator variable, and students’ writing competency as dependent variable. To conduct this research, 80 students were selected as the sample. The design of this research was 2x2 factorial design. Data were collected by an instrument called posttest which is essay type test. The acquired data were analyzed statistically by two way ANOVA. This research discovers: 1) there is a significant effect of PBL on students’ writing competency, 2) there is no significant effect of the interaction between teaching methods (PBL and conventional teaching method) and students’ learning discipline level (high and low levels) on students’ writing competency, 3) PBL has significant effect for both high and low discipline students. Based on the analysis, PBL has positive effect on students’ writing competency. So, it is recommended to apply this teaching method in writing class as an alternative way to improve students’ writing competency. Key words: project based learning, learning discipline, writing competency