Educational Assessment in Portugal

This paper discusses some of the Portuguese education features and its intended learning assessment system. Pupils’ retention and drop out rates are analysed and discussed. Three characteristics of the intended assessment system are presented and discussed in this paper: a) the predominance of formative assessment; b) the predominance of internal assessment; and c) student retention decisions made at the end of basic schooling cycles. Some features of both internal and external assessments are also analysed and discussed. Generally speaking the Portuguese assessment system can be seen as appropriate and progressive. However, there still exists a significant gap between what has been legally proposed and the so-called “real system”. Thus, some recommendations are made aimed at reducing or eliminating that gap which is seen as one of the greatest challenges to be faced by Portuguese society in the years to com

The Defense Of Oral Interaction In The Midst Of Whatsapp Use In The Learning Environment

This research aimed to explain the defense of oral interactions in the presence of information and communication technologies such as WhatsApp (WA) as well as to explore some of the positive contributions of WA used in building the Real Life Communication, especially in the learning environment. By applying the Exploratory design, this research involved 4 participants from various educational backgrounds as a purposively selected data source indicated as WA users at once. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussion, Interview, and Observation and analyzed by several stages i.e. data reduction, displaying data, categorizing, and verifying and concluding. The results showed that oral interactions can decrease both in the language community and learning environment as the dominant use of WA that is not wise. Nevertheless, the use of WA applications also had some positive contributions in building a real relationship. Finally, the assumption that the negative impact of using the WA application should be able to change the mindset and positive attitude of the scholars in initiating and defending an oral interaction in the learning environment