Exploring the Assessment Aspect of Differentiated Instruction: College EFL Learners\u27 Perspectives on Tiered Performance Tasks

If human beings are believed to be individually unique, why are students evaluated with standardized tests? Differentiated instruction, honoring individual differences of each learner, provides an alternative answer to the question by employing tiered performance tasks to address personal needs in assessment situations. To explore the applicability of differentiated instruction in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environment, this case study explored Taiwanese college students’ perspectives on tiered performance tasks and educational implications of the perspectives with regard to EFL learning and teaching at the tertiary level. Grounded in the humanistic stance of education and sociocultural view of learning, the study’s premise is that culturally responsive learner-centered instruction will promote English learning experience in a Chinese context. Data gathering techniques employed included observations, interviews, videotaping, and artifact collection, while data analysis procedures followed a three-step process: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. A total of 12 participants demonstrated generally positive responses to tiered performance tasks offered in a final examination for a freshmen English listening and speaking class. An overall acceptance of the assessment strategy was generated through recognition and appreciation of choices of leveled tasks, heightened motivation, increased efforts, improved English skills, and greater confidence. Concerns caused by the challenging tasks included complexity level, time required to complete the task, partnership, and score. Affirmative results were particularly evident in low-ranking students. The acceptance of tiered performance tasks indicated that differentiated instruction is promising in supporting English language learning of college EFL learners in Taiwan. Implications pointed to the needs of an authentic assessment to link teaching and learning, as well as an equitable relationship between the educator and the learner. Suggestions for future research were offered

Exploring the Assessment Aspect of Differentiated Instruction: College EFL Learners\u27 Perspectives on Tiered Performance Tasks

If human beings are believed to be individually unique, why are students evaluated with standardized tests? Differentiated instruction, honoring individual differences of each learner, provides an alternative answer to the question by employing tiered performance tasks to address personal needs in assessment situations. To explore the applicability of differentiated instruction in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environment, this case study explored Taiwanese college students’ perspectives on tiered performance tasks and educational implications of the perspectives with regard to EFL learning and teaching at the tertiary level. Grounded in the humanistic stance of education and sociocultural view of learning, the study’s premise is that culturally responsive learner-centered instruction will promote English learning experience in a Chinese context. Data gathering techniques employed included observations, interviews, videotaping, and artifact collection, while data analysis procedures followed a three-step process: data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. A total of 12 participants demonstrated generally positive responses to tiered performance tasks offered in a final examination for a freshmen English listening and speaking class. An overall acceptance of the assessment strategy was generated through recognition and appreciation of choices of leveled tasks, heightened motivation, increased efforts, improved English skills, and greater confidence. Concerns caused by the challenging tasks included complexity level, time required to complete the task, partnership, and score. Affirmative results were particularly evident in low-ranking students. The acceptance of tiered performance tasks indicated that differentiated instruction is promising in supporting English language learning of college EFL learners in Taiwan. Implications pointed to the needs of an authentic assessment to link teaching and learning, as well as an equitable relationship between the educator and the learner. Suggestions for future research were offered

IMPLEMENTATION OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT BY ENGLISH TEACHERS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CASE STUDY AT SMK NEGERI 1 TAMBUSAI

ABSTRAK Siti Amaliah (2022) : Implementasi Penilaian Formatif oleh Guru Bahasa Inggris di Masa Pandemi COVID-19: Studi kasus di SMK Negeri 1 Tambusai Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui praktik guru bahasa Inggris dalam melaksanakan penilaian formatif online dan offline selama pandemi COVID-19 di SMK Negeri 1 Tambusai. Metode penelitian ini adalah kualitatif dengan desain penelitian studi kasus. Peneliti mengumpulkan data dengan menggunakan wawancara dan dokumentasi. Partisipan dalam penelitian ini adalah dua orang guru bahasa Inggris di SMK Negeri 1 Tambusai. Untuk teknik analisis data, peneliti menggunakan analisis data Miles dan Huberman, yang memiliki tiga langkah: (1) kondensasi data atau reduksi data, (2) penyajian data, dan (3) penarikan kesimpulan dan verifikasi. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa guru bahasa Inggris di SMK Negeri 1 Tambusai menerapkan penilaian formatif online dan offline selama pandemi COVID-19. Temuan penelitian ini, guru bahasa Inggris menggunakan Google classroom dan Google form untuk penilaian formatif online. Sementara itu, guru bahasa Inggris menggunakan kuis, tanya jawab dan diskusi kelompok, tugas jawaban singkat, mendengarkan cloze, bermain peran, membaca keras, pemetaan pikiran dan menulis dialog sebagai penilaian formatif offline. Selain itu, guru bahasa Inggris menghadapi beberapa kendala dalam melaksanakan penilaian formatif online dan offline, yaitu kurangnya sumber daya manusia, jaringan internet, daerah rumah siswa tidak memiliki jaringan, bahkan ada yang tidak memiliki ponsel, tidak semua siswa aktif dan mereka kurang termotivasi. Namun guru menemukan solusi untuk mengatasi semua kendala tersebut dengan menyediakan wifi di ruangan tertentu, merekomendasikan kepada siswa untuk dapat menggunakan handphone orang tua atau temannya dan mendekati siswa yang kurang berminat untuk belajar. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa guru bahasa Inggris hanya menggunakan Google classroom dan Google form untuk penilaian formatif online dan menggunakan kuis, tanya jawab dan diskusi kelompok dalam penilaian formatif offline

Ensuring Quality Education and Good Learning Environments for Students

Today, new technologies bring with them an everchanging panorama, forcing us to constantly update our knowledge. For this reason, quality education is necessary in all areas of knowledge and at all educational levels. The quality of our educational systems and the questions raised by reviewing whether our educational institutions offer quality education or not are some of the main reasons why quality education is a topic that, in recent years, has captured the interest of governments, researchers and lecturers, among others. This issue brings together different socioeducational actors with their concerns for and commitments to higher education, in order to achieve the aim of providing people with the competencies necessary to adapt to a changing and competitive world, in which the individual needs to engage in lifelong learning and where education must align with sustainable development goals, such as democracy, justice and equality. All of this provides us with a scenario for reflecting on and researching fundamental questions, such as how to prevent school absenteeism, how to deal with students leaving school early, how to prevent or alleviate the phenomenon of dropping out in higher education, etc. In other words, can we assume that student failure is partly due to the failure of our educational systems? Are we educating self-regulated, critical, learning-motivated and competent students? These and other questions lead us to search for measures with which we can improve the quality of our educational systems by proposing strategies and developing tools to enhance the lecturing–learning processes in our classrooms

A conceptual review of the effectiveness of flipped learning in vocational learners’ cognitive skills and emotional states

An inverted method of teaching is an instructional model where traditional classroom activities take place before class while class time is devoted to discussion, problem-solving, and interaction among students. Flipped learning is a learner-centered and technology-driven approach that benefits from the inverted method of teaching. Recently, instructors have begun to employ innovative pedagogies like flipped learning approach, to change the conventional practices in vocational education as flipped learning gives them a chance for professional development. In order to find out the reasons of the improvement of vocational education through the use of flipped learning approach, this review examined the effect of the flipped learning approach on vocational learners’ cognitive skills and emotional states in earlier studies. The earlier investigations showed the significant effect flipped learning approach on vocational learners’ emotions, such as engagement, motivation, self-efficacy, and their cognitive skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, learning skill, learning strategies, and communicative competence. However, this review implicated that flipped learning, as a type of blended learning, may be beneficial for learners, instructors, and students’ parents to be aware of this valuable learner-centered approach in vocational education

Digital representation for assessment of spoken EFL at university level: A case study in Vietnam

Assessing the speaking performance of students who are studying English as a Foreign Language (EFL) has mainly been conducted with face-to-face speaking tests. While such tests are undoubtedly interactive and authentic, they have been criticised for subjective scoring, as well as lacking an effective test delivery method and recordings for later review. Technology has increasingly been integrated into speaking tests over the last decade and become known as computer-assisted or computer-based assessment of speaking. Although this method is widely acknowledged to measure certain aspects of language speaking effectively, such as pronunciation and grammar, it has not yet proved to be a successful option for assessing interactive skills. An effective testing method is deemed to maintain the interactivity and authenticity of live speaking tests, able to deliver tests quickly and efficiently, and provide recordings of performances for multiple marking and review. This study investigated digital representation of EFL speaking performance as a viable form of student assessment. The feasibility of digital representation has previously been examined in relation to authenticity and reliability in assessment of different subjects in Western Australia, including Italian, Applied Information Technology, Engineering Studies, and Physical Education Studies. However, as far as the researcher is aware, no studies have yet assessed EFL speaking performance using digital representation. In an attempt to bridge this gap, this study explored the feasibility of digital representation for assessing EFL speaking performance in a university in Vietnam, the researcher’s home country. Data collection was undertaken in two phases using a mixed methods approach. In Phase 1, data related to English teachers’ and students’ perceptions of Computer- Assisted English Speaking Assessment (CAESA) were collected. Their perceptions were analysed in relation to the outcomes of a digital speaking assessment trial using the Oral Video Assessment Application (DMOVA). In Phase 2, student participants took an English speaking test while being videoed and audio recorded. English teachers invigilated and marked the trial test using the current method, followed by the digital method. Data were collected via Qualtrics surveys, interviews, observations and databases of student performance results. The feasibility of digital representation in assessing EFL speaking performance was analysed according to the Feasibility Analysis Framework developed by Kimbell, Wheeler, Miller, and Pollitt (2007). The findings from Phase 1 indicated that both teachers and students had positive attitudes towards computer-assisted assessment (CAA). They were confident with computer-assisted English assessment (CAEA) and preferred this testing method to the current paper-and-pencil process. Both cohorts believed that CAEA enhanced the precision and fairness of assessments and was efficient in terms of resources. However, some participants were sceptical about the authenticity of computer-assisted EFL speaking tests because it failed to foster conversations and interactions in the same way as face-to-face assessments. In spite of their scepticism, teachers and students indicated their willingness to trial DMOVA. Phase 2 identified the feasibility dimensions of DMOVA. This method of digital assessment was perceived to enhance fairness, reliability and validity, with some correlations between the live interview and digital tests. Teachers found it easy to manage the speaking tests with DMOVA and recognised the logistical advantages it offered. DMOVA was also credited with generating positive washback effects on learning, teaching and assessment of spoken English. In addition, the digital technology was compatible with the existing facilities at the university and required no support or advanced ICT knowledge. Overall, the benefits of the new testing method were perceived to outweigh the limitations. The study confirmed that digital representation of EFL speaking performances for assessment would be beneficial for Vietnam for the following reasons: (a) it has potential to enhance the reliability and accuracy of the current English speaking assessment method, (b) it retains evidence of students’ performance for later assessment and review, and (c) it facilitates marking and administration. These changes could boost EFL teaching, learning, and assessment, as witnessed in the trial, leading to increased motivation of teachers and students, and ultimately, enhancement of students’ English communication skills. The findings of the study also have implications for English speaking assessment policies and practices in Vietnam and other similar contexts where English is taught, spoken and assessed as a foreign language

Why isn't group work inspiring your students?

When we put students into groups, we sometimes find that the tasks work well, while at other times they fail to live up to their full potential. Does the problem lie within the design of the task, does it depend on the physical environment of the classroom, is it a result of the individuals in the particular group or is it something about the formation of the group itself? This presentation examined the elements included in a good group task, the theoretical background behind the stages in the formation of groups and what lessons we can learn from the literature in terms of why groups may not function effectively in classroom tasks. The literature will then be compared to responses gathered from action research conducted on what learners feel about participating in cooperative group tasks and why they think such tasks are effective or not

Validating the model of predictors of academic self-handicapping behavior

The main aim of the present study is to validate the model of predictors of self-handicapping behavior (POASH) on the data derived from undergraduate students in an ongoing co-curriculum compulsory course. The study adapted and extended the original theory of reciprocal interaction of emotion, cognition and behavior by adding self-handicapping behavior component. In so doing, this study assessed the direct and indirect effects of emotion, cognition and behavior via student engagement on self-handicapping behavior. The second purpose of the study is to evaluate gender and nationality status invariants of the causal structure of POASH. This cross-validation procedure determined whether gender and nationality status moderated the causal structure of the model, and thus the generality of POASH. The data was collected from two self-reported questionnaires administered to 790 undergraduates of an International Islamic University in Malaysia. A confirmatory three-step approach theory testing and development using Maximum Likelihood method was applied. The results of structured equation modeling supported the adequacy of POASH and the causal structure of POASH proved to be applicable to both genders and nationality statuses