Syftet med denna studie är att utveckla kunskap om hur lärares återkoppling omsätts i handling av eleverna när de undervisas i idrott och hälsa. Studien genomförs med hjälp av deltagande observationer av två lärare i idrott och hälsa inom området redskap. På dessa lärare genomförs sedan semistrukturerade intervjuer för att belysa deras uppfattning av formativ bedömning, bedömning för lärande och hur de arbetat med detta under de lektioner som observerats. Tre elever kommer även intervjuas kort under observationerna för att få deras syn på den feedback de fått från lärarna. Intervjuerna transkriberas sedan och observationerna renskrivs och därigenom har det synliggjorts fyra kategorier som belyser formativ bedömning. Det resultat jag kommit fram till visar att det finns en variation av uppfattningar av den formativa feedbacken som ges till och tas emot av elever i idrott och hälsa. Lärarna ger rikligt med feedback till eleverna under lektionerna och eleverna upplever att de får en feedback som hjälper dem i sitt lärande. Dock är den feedback som ges inte alltid av framåtsyftande karaktär och stimulerar erfarenhetstillväxt hos eleverna. / The purpose of this study is to develop knowledge about how teachers’ feedback is translated into action by students in physical education and health. The study is done through participant observation of two teachers in physical education and health in the field of gymnastics. Semistructured interviews were carried out with these teachers to highlight their perception of formative assessment, assessment for learning and how the teachers worked with this during the lessons observed. Three students were also interviewed briefly during the observations to get their views on the feedback they received from the teachers. The interviews and the observations were then analysed and thereby four categories that highlight formative assessment have been made visible. The identified finding was that there were a variety of perceptions of formative feedback that was given to and received by students in physical education and health. The teachers gave plenty of feedback to the students during the lessons and the students felt that they were getting feedback that helped them in their learning. The feedback was not always of a,forward-looking nature that stimulated growth of the students.

Undersökningen syftar till att studera hur lärare arbetar med återkoppling för att utveckla elevens skriftliga språkkunskaper i förhållande till kunskapskrav. Ett delsyfte är att även undersöka vilka möjligheter och utmaningar lärarna ser med återkoppling på elevtexter som strategi för att utveckla elevens skriftliga språkkunskaper. Undersökningen utgår ifrån forskningsfrågorna om hur lärare tolkar Skolverkets kunskapskrav, hur lärare arbetar med återkoppling på elevtexter samt hur lärare uppfattar möjligheter och utmaningar med att ge återkoppling på elevtexter. Denna undersökning utgår ifrån en kvalitativ metod, baserat på kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer. Materialet som analyserats består av sex intervjuer med yrkesverksamma utbildade lärare i ämnet svenska. Undersökningen visar att lärarna tolkar kunskapskraven likstämmigt, men upplever att de är komplexa. Vad gäller återkopplingen på elevtexter konstateras att lärarna anpassar arbetet med återkoppling efter tid, arbetsbelastning, men också utefter eleven och den aktuella skrivuppgiften. Gemensamt för lärarna i studien är att det uppfattas som viktigt att utveckla språket, samt att en sådan utveckling sker ligger hos både läraren och eleven. / This paper investigates how teachers work with feedback to improve the student’s written language, in relation to the syllabus. Moreover, this paper intends to distinguish what opportunitiesand challenges teachers face during their work with feedback regarding the student's writtenlanguage. The study emanates from the following research questions: How do teachers interpret the language criteria in the syllabus, how are the teachers working with feedback to improve students’ written language, and at last, what challenges and opportunities do the teachers experience during the work with feedback regarding the student's written language? The survey is based on a qualitative method, more specifically semi structed interviews with respondents teaching swedish in upper secondary school, in Sweden. The study shows that teachers tend to interpret the criteria in the syllabus uniformly, despite the complex formulations there are. It was also found that teachers’ feedback is adjusted to time, workload, but also the current writing assignment. The study also shows that the teachers interviewed, believes that the students’ development in written language is important and that both teachers and students are responsible for that such development is taking place

The aim of this study is to investigate how mathematics teachers use formative assessment to make the course objectives clear to the student. This is part of a wider aim in Sweden to find ways for improving mathematics teaching. Qualitative semi-structrured interviews and observations were used for collecting data. Different approaches to integrate formative assessment in their classrooms is discussed: questioning, discussions in whole-class, group work and assessment and feedback. The analysis of the results indicated that the teachers thought differently about how to integrate the course objectives in their planning. Two out of three teachers did not consciously base their planning on these which could be due to a lack of time to discuss the curriculum amongst the teachers. Conditions that make implementation of these approaches more or less easy include the teacher’s view of formative assessment, the school-based support and the impact of high-stake tests such as national tests.

There are a myriad of factors that influence the teaching and assessment of English as a foreign language in Israel. One such factor is the change in perception of how the mind collects and processes information. The transition from behaviorist theories of learning to constructivist and cognitivist theories has resulted in a new concept of learning that recognises the pivotal role of the learner in the learning process. Another instrumental factor is the creation of standards in education that are intended to raise the level of academic achievement and provide equitable educational opportunities for all learners. Both of these factors have impacted the study of English as a foreign language. Countries around the world have assumed monumental changes in the way they approach foreign language study. Following the examples of foreign countries Israel has recently implemented a standards-based curriculum that supports alternative assessment. Since this is a relatively new concept, the principles underlying standards and assessment are unfamiliar to many EFL teachers. Novice teachers, as well as experienced teachers, are experiencing difficulty incorporating standards and alternative assessment into their lessons. In the light of the above it was clear that a need existed to investigate how English foreign language teachers relate to assessment and to examine the extent to which they implement alternative assessment in their teaching. The aim of the study is to explore teachers' understanding of alternative assessment and find out how teachers incorporate alternative assessment in their EFL classes. Against this background, an empirical investigation was undertaken. It comprised a textual analysis of ten assessment packages and two focus group interviews. The research produced a wealth of descriptive data that illuminated the subject. The findings magnified the disparity between the theory behind alternative assessment and actual practice. It was apparent that the assessment activities which EFL teachers employed, were not in sync with the principles that were being promoted by the new curriculum for EFL teaching and assessment in Israeli schools. The study discusses the results of the investigation, suggests the implications and presents recommendations. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Didactics)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges affecting teachers’ classroom assessment practices and to explore how these challenges influence effective teaching and learning. The study was qualitative in nature and employed an instrumental case study approach. Semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analyses were used in the investigation. The study utilized the conceptual framework based on the model suggested by Hargreaves, Earl and Schmidt (2002). The model comprised four perspectives – technological, cultural, political and postmodern, with the intention of accounting for teachers’ assessment practices. Teachers from four different schools in North West Province were interviewed and observed. The data collected through the observations and interviews allowed me to map out the different challenges encountered by teachers in their classroom assessment practices. I also analysed documents that teachers used in conducting assessment. Document analysis was used to triangulate the information collected through observations and interviews. Textual data was analysed using content analysis. The teachers’ narratives varied according to their teaching experience and background within the diverse contexts of their particular school environments. Major challenges that emanated from this study were policy interpretation, overcrowding, support, parental involvement, moderation mechanisms (internal and external), assessment planning, implementation and communication as well as lack of resources. In order to address these challenges, teachers relied on cluster meetings, their colleagues and mostly their personal experiences. The study also revealed that teachers’ understanding and practices of classroom assessment are influenced by their social and educational context. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Denna studie har som syfte att beskriva en lärares tillvägagångssätt för att tydliggöra kunskapskraven i Lgr 11 som är relaterade till skriftlig språkfärdighet i spanska, samt att ta reda på elevernas uppfattningar om detta tillvägagångssätt. I den här studien används uttrycket att tydliggöra i en bred mening, vari ingår både lärarens verbalisering av kunskapskraven och alla aktiviteter som läraren sätter igång och som ska hjälpa eleverna att utveckla en förståelse för dessa. Undersökningen bygger på en fallstudie i vilken olika källor har använts: intervjuer med läraren och fyra elever, enkät, klassrumsobservationer, en matris och ett urval rättade uppgifter. Resultatet visar att läraren och hennes elever verbaliserar sina tolkningar av kunskapskraven på ett likadant sätt. För att tydliggöra kunskapskraven använder läraren flera olika tillvägagångssätt, främst utsagor om kvalitet och exempel på korrekta meningar. Som utsagor om kvalitet använder läraren de formuleringar som finns i kursplanen, samtidigt som hon förklarar med andra ord och tydliggör för eleverna vilka konkreta tecken på kvalitet dessa innebär i en text. Återkopplingen till eleverna är också ett tillfälle för att tydliggöra kunskapskraven. Som metod för att tydliggöra kunskapskraven efterlyser eleverna framförallt konkreta råd om hur en text kan bli bättre, samt att få exempel på bra och mindre bra texter. Både läraren och eleverna är tveksamma till vilken roll tydliggörande av kunskapskraven spelar i undervisningen. / This study aims to describe a teacher’s way to clarify knowledge requirements regarding written expression skills in Spanish. It also aims to find out how students perceive their teacher’s way to clarify those requirements. In this study the expression “to clarify” is used in a broad sense, in which is included not only the teacher’s verbalization of knowledge requirements, but also all the activities that the teacher starts in order to help the pupils understand them. This investigation is based on a case study in which data is gathered from the following sources: in-depth interviews with the teacher and four students, a survey, structured observations and documents (a scoring rubrics and a selection of assessed compositions). The results show that the teacher and her students verbalize their understanding of knowledge requirements in a similar way. The teacher uses different ways to clarify knowledge requirements, mainly through descriptive statements and examples of correct sentences. As descriptive statements she uses the same expressions that are used in the course plan while at the same time explaining them with other words and showing the students which specific characteristics those requirements imply when writing a text. Feedback to the students is also an opportunity to clarify knowledge requirements. As a method to clarify knowledge requirements students would like to get concrete advice about how a text could be better and exemplars of texts of varying quality. Both the teacher and the students have doubts about what role clarifying knowledge requirements may have for instruction.

Alors que les gouvernements cherchent à améliorer le rendement des systèmes scolaires qu’ils financent, l’intérêt des dirigeants porte sur les résultats des élèves mais aussi sur le rendement des professionnels de l’éducation, dont les directions d’école. Cette étude a pour but de contribuer au développement de la connaissance sur l’évaluation du rendement de ces dernières en répondant à la question : Comment les directions d’école perçoivent-elles la pratique réflexive dans leur processus d’évaluation? La recension des écrits montre que les directions qui ont le plus de succès jouent un rôle actif dans leur amélioration et que la pratique réflexive accroît la pertinence du perfectionnement professionnel et par conséquent le rendement de la direction. L’étude propose un cadre conceptuel qui tient compte du perfectionnement professionnel, de l’évaluation axée sur l’apprentissage et de la pratique réflexive. Cette recherche suit une méthodologie mixte afin de déceler les tendances et les perceptions quant aux pratiques à l’étude. D’abord, un questionnaire à choix de réponses a été administré sur Internet et les réponses de 65 directions d’écoles de langue française de l’Ontario ont été traitées de façon quantitative. Ensuite, des entrevues semi-structurées avec dix des répondants ont permis d’approfondir le sujet par une méthode qualitative en offrant l’occasion aux participants de partager leur vécu. Les résultats dévoilent que le perfectionnement professionnel occupe peu de place dans l’évaluation du rendement bien que les participants se servent d’objectifs de croissance professionnelle. La pratique réflexive est souvent déclenchée par un inconfort, par un succès ou par une occasion de perfectionnement ou est provoquée par des situations extérieures transposées à la situation de l’école du participant. Les échanges structurés et les discussions franches entre collègues et avec le superviseur favorisent la pratique réflexive. La rétroaction spécifique du superviseur donne des pistes d’amélioration appuyées d’un soutien. Les participants reconnaissent qu’ils jouent un rôle actif dans leur évaluation et recherchent un encadrement orienté vers l’amélioration. Les participants perçoivent que la pratique réflexive occupe une grande place dans leur processus d’évaluation, qu’ils soient encadrés par le superviseur dans un processus axé sur leur amélioration ou qu’ils s’auto-évaluent quand le processus est flou.

Research reviews have shown that the use of formative assessment in classroom practice can substantially improve student achievement. However, a strong research base about how to support teachers’ implementation of such formative classroom practice is lacking. In this thesis, I investigate the effects of a comprehensive professional development programme (PDP) in formative assessment on teachers’ classroom practice and students’ achievement in mathematics. In addition, I identify reasons for the changes made in the teachers’ formative classroom practice. Fourteen randomly selected year - 7 mathematics teachers participated in the PDP. The teachers’ formative classroom practice before and after attending the programme was analysed and described, and reasons for their change in practice were explored. The effect of the changes in formative classroom practice on students’ mathematics achievement was examined using pre- and post-tests administered to both the intervention group and a control group. A mixed methods approach with classroom observations, teacher interviews, questionnaires and student achievement tests in mathematics was used in the studies included in the thesis. The results show that the teachers used aspects of formative assessment in their classroom practice before the PDP, but that there was plenty of room for development towards a more effective formative assessment practice. Several possibilities for developing the practice were identified. After the PDP the teachers believed in the idea of formative assessment and were motivated to make changes towards a more formative classroom practice. The teachers included new formative assessment activities in their classroom practice, but in different ways and to different degrees. The characteristics of these changes were identified, and also the characteristics of the PDP that the teachers found to be influential for their development of the formative classroom practice. Results also show that the teachers’ motivational beliefs held after the PDP was an explanatory factor for their changes in practice. However, the formative assessment practice the teachers implemented did not have a significant effect on their students’ achievement compared to the control group. In addition, there was no correlation between the number of formative assessment activities implemented by the teachers and their students’ achievement gains. Reasons for these non-effects on student achievement, and for the teachers’ degree and type of implementation of formative assessment in the classroom practice, are discussed in the thesis.

Alors que les gouvernements cherchent à améliorer le rendement des systèmes scolaires qu’ils financent, l’intérêt des dirigeants porte sur les résultats des élèves mais aussi sur le rendement des professionnels de l’éducation, dont les directions d’école. Cette étude a pour but de contribuer au développement de la connaissance sur l’évaluation du rendement de ces dernières en répondant à la question : Comment les directions d’école perçoivent-elles la pratique réflexive dans leur processus d’évaluation? La recension des écrits montre que les directions qui ont le plus de succès jouent un rôle actif dans leur amélioration et que la pratique réflexive accroît la pertinence du perfectionnement professionnel et par conséquent le rendement de la direction. L’étude propose un cadre conceptuel qui tient compte du perfectionnement professionnel, de l’évaluation axée sur l’apprentissage et de la pratique réflexive. Cette recherche suit une méthodologie mixte afin de déceler les tendances et les perceptions quant aux pratiques à l’étude. D’abord, un questionnaire à choix de réponses a été administré sur Internet et les réponses de 65 directions d’écoles de langue française de l’Ontario ont été traitées de façon quantitative. Ensuite, des entrevues semi-structurées avec dix des répondants ont permis d’approfondir le sujet par une méthode qualitative en offrant l’occasion aux participants de partager leur vécu. Les résultats dévoilent que le perfectionnement professionnel occupe peu de place dans l’évaluation du rendement bien que les participants se servent d’objectifs de croissance professionnelle. La pratique réflexive est souvent déclenchée par un inconfort, par un succès ou par une occasion de perfectionnement ou est provoquée par des situations extérieures transposées à la situation de l’école du participant. Les échanges structurés et les discussions franches entre collègues et avec le superviseur favorisent la pratique réflexive. La rétroaction spécifique du superviseur donne des pistes d’amélioration appuyées d’un soutien. Les participants reconnaissent qu’ils jouent un rôle actif dans leur évaluation et recherchent un encadrement orienté vers l’amélioration. Les participants perçoivent que la pratique réflexive occupe une grande place dans leur processus d’évaluation, qu’ils soient encadrés par le superviseur dans un processus axé sur leur amélioration ou qu’ils s’auto-évaluent quand le processus est flou.

Syftet med denna studie är att få kunskap om hur sex danslärare uppfattar sitt arbete med bedömning i dans i gymnasieskolan, inom de nya ämnes-och kursplanerna från 2011. Studien avser också undersöka hur danslärarna går tillväga under feedbacksamtal i dansämnet. Mitt syfte för studien grundar sig i att jag själv har ett starkt intresse för bedömning och hur jag kan utveckla olika bedömningsmetoder. De metoder jag har använt mig av i studien är tre kvalitativa intervjuer, samt tre intervjuer via mail. Intervjupersonerna har valts på grunderna att de undervisar elever inom det estetiska programmet inriktning dans, samt att de undervisar elever enligt de nya ämnes-och kursplanerna. Resultatet visar att samtliga danslärare anser att ämnes-och kursplanerna styr deras bedömningsarbete, men även deras undervisningsplanering av kurser och lektioner. Alla lärare uppfattar att de nya ämnes-och kursplanerna från 2011 är tydliga. Resultatet visar också att danslärarna arbetar med formativ bedömning (bedömning för lärande) under läsåret och summativt inför betygsättning, då de tittar på allt insamlat material. En svårighet som alla lärarna uppger, är att få tiden att räcka till allt arbete som bedömning omfattar. På feedbacksamtal arbetar danslärarna formativt och vill både säga något om hur eleverna ligger till men också hur de ska arbeta vidare. Förutom omdöme och betyg på feedbacksamtal, vill alla lärare i undersökningen, även lyfta och stärka elevernas självförtroende och förmedla deras positiva utveckling. / The aim of this study is to gain knowledge of how six dance teachers view their work regarding assessment in Dance, in upper secondary school, within the new subject-and course syllabus from 2011. The study also aims to find out how the dance teachers go about in the feedback development dialogue in dance. The aim of the study is based upon my interest of assessment and how I further can find and develop different methods of assessment. The methods of the study are based on three qualitative interviews, as well as three interviews via e-mail. The interviewees have been chosen to participate in the study due to their students who major the Esthetic Programme, orientation Dance. The interviewees have also been chosen due to teaching within the new subject-and course syllabus. The result of the study demonstrate that the dance teachers find that the subject-and course syllabus is steering all of their work with assessment, as well as planning of courses and lessons. They also perceive the new subject-and course syllabus as very explicit. The result also shows that the dance teachers use formative assessment (assessment for learning) during the academic year. Summative assessment is used before grading, when they assess the students’ development and achievements. All teachers perceive one difficulty with assessment. They account for a shortage of time when it comes to assessing all elements of each course. During the feedback development dialogue in dance, the teachers are communicating in a formative way and present the students’ current position in the learning process, and how to reach further. In addition to rating and grading in the feedback development dialogue, all the teachers want to reinforce and strengthen the self-confidence of their students and also emphasize the students’ positive development.