The key purpose of this qualitative case study was to gain an understanding of classroom teachers’ perceptions of the process and impact of formative assessment on classroom instruction in a secondary school. The study was designed to obtain information about how teachers view formative assessment as part of their everyday planning and preparation, as well as sought to determine whether or not there was a correlation between teachers’ perceived understanding of formative assessment and their implementation of formative assessment in the classroom. The three main research questions that guided this study were: 1) How do teachers’ perceptions of their own understanding of formative assessment affect their instructional practice? 2) How do teachers’ perceptions of their own understanding of formative assessment evolve over time? 3) What supports exist to help teachers implement formative assessment at the high school level? The case study focused on participants who were current 9-12 public school teachers representing mathematics, physical education, and foreign language. To triangulate the data, multiple types of data were collected from the teachers. Pre- and post-surveys, unstructured interviews, focus groups, classroom observations with participant observation notes, and logs were used to collect the data. Data was then analyzed using analysis of the pre-surveys and compared with information gained from the other data sources. Data was later analyzed using the post-survey and compared with the information from other data sources to determine individual teacher growth over time. The results from the first research question indicated that teachers understood the accountability of both teachers and students in the assessment process, but required additional support in determining how student learning becomes the basis for use of formative assessment, types of different methods used, and overall teacher competencies about formative assessment. The second research question indicated that growth occurred when professional supports were given in areas where weaknesses were identified. Initially, formative assessment was viewed by many as a means of compliance with the new teacher evaluation system. With continued professional development, teachers’ acceptance of formative assessment increased as their understanding of the process dually increased. In addition, as teachers began to see growth in student achievement, their overall acceptance of formative assessment also increased. The third and final research question indicated that supports must not only be global in nature, but must also be focused on the individual. When teachers know where they are and know the target of where they want or need to be, instructional growth does occur. Supports for teacher instructional practice will vary based on identified needs, understanding of formative assessment, and the type of supports available. Recommendations for follow-up study include the use of additional focus groups, extending the formative assessment survey to include lengthening the time of the study, and a change in setting to avoid certain nuances that can occur with studying the same school district. Additionally, research should be completed on the long-term effects of personalized professional development and whether teachers continue to use formative assessment practices as they gain more extensive experience. Since this particular school was undergoing a complete system change while the study was being completed, it would be dually important to investigate a school that was not in the midst of such a change. With all the additional supports available to the teachers in this study, it is important to see if a teacher’s perceived understanding of formative assessment would continue to translate into instructional practice if whole school and individual supports were not as prevalent.

Submitted by JOSÉ CARLOS MENDONÇA null (jcfilos.mendonca@gmail.com) on 2016-03-30T02:56:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Texto final da Tese (arquivo único).pdf: 2259324 bytes, checksum: 12dc1240f9a6225b5620dfb9e489be64 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-04-01T13:03:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 mendonca_jc_dr_mar.pdf: 2259324 bytes, checksum: 12dc1240f9a6225b5620dfb9e489be64 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-01T13:03:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 mendonca_jc_dr_mar.pdf: 2259324 bytes, checksum: 12dc1240f9a6225b5620dfb9e489be64 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-01 / Outra / Cette recherche a pour objectif d'analyser la problématique formative de l'activité philosophique à la lumière de la notion “travail sur soi-même” du philosophe Ludwig Wittgenstein, afin de repenser un sens autre que celui “philosopher éduque”. Dans cette direction, Wittgenstein sera pris comme référence, autant que le propre témoin des mouvements que sa notion renvoie à l'acte de philosopher. Tout particulièrement l'exercice de soi sur soi, témoignages des carnets d'annotations et les observations de Remarques mêlées, qui finisse par caractériser sa philosophie le rapprochant des entraînements que Pierre Hadot nommait “exercices spirituels”; lesquels, sur tel point de vue, finissent par caractériser l'acte de philosopher comme une expérience formative, ce qui déplace le sens de l'activité philosophique par le contexte d'un art d'apprendre á vivre” et non “d'enseigner à vivre”. Raison pour laquelle on peut dire qu'il y a dans sa proposition philosophique un “tournant formatif”, car, principalement avec la notion de “travail sur soi-même”, il est exigé de l'activité philosophique d'autres mouvements que ceux strictement conceptuels discursifs. Sous ce “nouveau” point de vue, attaché au vivant, (l'acte de) philosopher se montre comme “l'art d'apprendre à vivre” – à travers “des exercices” et “une manière de vivre” qui prend soin – consiste dans cette action liée á la “première personne”. De cette forme, si philosopher “travesti comme manière de vivre qui exerce” vise à la constitution d' un “discours interne” avec comme fin d'opérer la transformation de soi, l'activité philosophique se voit comme face à une “nouvelle” proposition, dont le “jeu de la vérité” – de base éthique et non épistémologique – finit par demander l'actualisation de son sens éducatif. Ainsi, à partir des références mentionnées et de l'objectif proposé, et marquée par une recherche bibliographique de méthodologie théorico-philosophique, le travail prend pour axe les trois mouvements qui s'imposent comme variables d'analyse sur la question formative présupposée dans la notion wittgenstienne – “si la philosophie est-elle un travail sur soi-même, qu'est-ce qu'on travaille sur soi quand on philosophe?” – dont les principaux mouvements font que le propre sens formatif de l'activité soit repensé :1) expérience de soi dans la pratique de l'exercice ou de l'exercice comme pratique de soi ; 2) expérience de soi dans la langage; 3) expérience éthique de soi comme pratique de la vérité de soi-même. / Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo analisar a problemática formativa da atividade filosófica à luz da noção “trabalho sobre si-mesmo” do filósofo austríaco Ludwig Wittgenstein, no intuito de repensar um sentido outro ao “filosofar que educa”. Nessa direção, Wittgenstein será tomado como o referencial, bem como a própria testemunha dos movimentos a que a sua noção faz remeter o filosofar. De modo particular o exercício de si sobre si, testemunhado pelos cadernos de anotações e as observações de Remarques mêlées, que acaba por caracterizar o seu filosofar aproximando-o de uma exercitação que Pierre Hadot denominou de “exercícios espirituais”; os quais, sob tal viés, acabam por caracterizar o filosofar como uma experiência formativa, o que desloca o sentido da atividade filosófica para o contexto de uma “arte de aprender a viver” e não “ensinar a viver”. Razão pela qual pode-se dizer que há em sua proposta filosófica um ‘giro formativo’, pois, principalmente com a noção de “trabalho sobre si-mesmo” é exigido da atividade filosófica movimentos outros que não o estritamente conceitual discursivo. Sob este ‘novo’ viés, atrelada ao viver, o filosofar se mostra como “arte de aprender a viver” porque a prática, via “exercício” e “maneira de viver” que cuida, consiste nesta ação vinculada à “primeira pessoa”. Dessa forma, se o filosofar “travestido como maneira de viver que exercita” visa à constituição de um “discurso interno” com o fim de operar a transformação de si, a atividade filosófica se vê diante de uma “nova” proposta, cujo ‘jogo da verdade’ – de base ética e não epistemológica – acaba por demandar a atualização de seu sentido educativo. Assim, a partir dos referenciais mencionados e ao fim proposto, e pautado por uma pesquisa bibliográfica de metodologia teórico-filosófica, o trabalho toma por eixo três movimentos os quais se impõe como variáveis de análise à questão formativa pressuposta na noção wittgensteiniana – “Se a filosofia é um trabalho sobre si-mesmo, o que se trabalha sobre si quando se filosofa?” –, cujos principais movimentos fazem com que o próprio sentido formativo da atividade seja repensado: 1) experiência de si na prática da exercitação ou do exercício como prática de si; 2) experiência de si na linguagem; 3) experiência ética de si como prática da própria verdade. / This research aims to analyze the formative problem of philosophical activity in the light of the notion "work about itself" of the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, in order to rethink a sense other to "philosophize that educates." In this way, Wittgenstein will be taken as the reference, as well as the very witness of the movements that its notion does refer philosophizing. Particularly, the exercise about itself, witnessed by notebooks of Notes mêlées, which ultimately characterize your philosophy approaching it from a Pierre Hadot´s practice called "spiritual exercises"; which ones, under such bias, characterize the philosophy as a formative experience, that shifts the philosophical activity senses to the context of an "learning to live science" and do not "teaching to live science". Reason why it can be said that is in its philosophical proposal as a 'formative turning' because, mainly with the "work about itself" notion is required from philosophical activity movements other than strictly discursive conceptual. Under this 'new' bias, linked to live philosophizing shown as "learning to live science" because the practice, through the "exercise" and "way of life" that cares, it consists in this linked action to the "first person". Thus, if the philosophizing "disguised as a way of living that exercise" aimed at the establishment of an "inner speech" in order to operate the transformation of the self, philosophical activity is faced with a "new" proposal, whose 'game the truth '- ethics and not epistemological basis - ultimately require updating its educational sense. Thus, from the aforementioned references and the proposed end, and guided by a literature review of theoretical and philosophical methodology, the work takes axle three which movements is imposed as analysis variables to the question formative presupposed in Wittgenstein's notion – “If the philosophy is a work of self, which works on itself when it philosophizes” –, whose main movements cause the formation direction of the activity itself to be rethought: 1) experience of itself in the practice of drilling or exercise as practice itself; 2) experience in the language itself; 3) ethical experience itself as a practice of truth itself.

Selon plusieurs recherches, le guide pédagogique aide les enseignants à mettre en œuvre au quotidien les prescriptions curriculaires et par ricochet, effectuer des évaluations formatives de haute qualité. Ce niveau de qualité passe par le respect des principes qui sous-tendent l’évaluation formative. Le but de cette recherche était de scruter, à travers une analyse de contenu qualitative, trois guides pédagogiques de sciences et technologie pour voir comment les principes d’évaluation formative seraient pris en compte dans les activités d’évaluation proposées aux enseignants à des fins formatives. Nous avons conçu et validé deux instruments de collecte de données à l'aide d'un système de codage basé sur les dimensions qui ont émergé des principes d’évaluation formative. Les résultats révèlent que les activités proposées ne se conforment pas toujours au processus d’évaluation formative et aux conditions entourant leur mise en œuvre. Plusieurs implications théoriques et pratiques émanant de cette étude vont permettre d’étayer davantage le sujet et également inspirer les enseignants dans leurs démarches d’évaluation formative.

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Providing feedback on students’ written tasks is a common aspect in today’s classrooms. Feedback affects students’ written language learning by either enhancing it or hindering it, depending on what, how and when it is given. The purpose of this degree project is to research how teachers perceive students’ writing process, how they give feedback on students’ written tasks in a primary EFL classroom, and the reasons behind their chosen strategies. Semi-structured interviews with two English teachers teaching years 4-6 were used as a method for this study. To support and analyse the data from the interviews, this project contains an overview of the fields of written language learning, formative assessment, effective formative feedback and writing as a process using literature and previous research. The literature and research show that teaching writing in a foreign language should focus on enhancing students’ interest in writing by supporting their curiosity and willingness to become writers. This can be done by focusing on content of a text instead of grammar or spelling, as this does not support young learners in their writing process. Teachers therefore need to provide feedback on aspects such as content, coherence and structure and give students information on how they can proceed in and improve a task. That is when the feedback will have the most positive effect on students’ learning. Further, the process-based approach of writing is argued to be beneficial for students’ learning as it encourages students to take an active part in their writing process. The major conclusions of this study are that the two teachers prefer to give informal and oral selective feedback on students’ writing tasks during the task. They give feedback once or twice on a task and often in the middle, to scaffold a progression. However, this is not in alignment with process-based writing. The study also shows that the two teachers are not aware of the theories underpinning writing as a process. Instead, they are well trained in ways of formative assessment and scaffolding language learning, but not the process-based approach of writing.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of six elementary school teachers towards formative assessment strategies and how they employ them. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews to explore the teachers´understanding formative assessment, its application in their teaching practices, and the perceived advantages and disadvantages associated with its use. The interviewed teachers were from three different schools in Sweden, with varying levels of experience. The findings indicated that teachers generally hold positive views toward formative assessment and actively integrate it into their teaching as a method to support students´academic development. The results showed that the teachers use oral formative assessment in the classroom, and they usually employ formative assessment with speaking and writing. Moreover, the findings show that they use formative assessment strategies to help their students learn more and to foster greater study motivation. However, the teachers expressed a desire for more time dedicated to formative assessment, citing challenges such as large class sizes and additional administrative responsibilities. / Abstract: syftet med denna studie var att undersöka attityder av sex lärare som undervisar i ämnet engelska på högstadienivå gentemot formativa bedömningsstrategier och hur de tillämpar dem i undervisningen. Studien använde en kvalitativ metod genom att göra semistrukturerade intervjuer för att utforska lärarnas förståelse av formativ bedömning, dess tillämpning i undervisning samt upplevda fördelar och nackdelar med dess användning. De intervjuade lärare jobbar på tre olika skolor i Sverige och hade varierande erfarenhetsnivåer. Resultaten visade att lärarna hade positiva åsikter om formativ bedömning och aktivt integrerar det i sin undervisning som en metod för att stödja elevernas utveckling. Resultaten visade också att lärarna använder muntlig formativ bedömning mest i klassrummet och de tillämpar vanligtvis formativ bedömning med skriv- och talförmåga. Dessutom visar resultaten att de använder formativa bedömningsstrategier i undervisning för att hjälpa sina elever utvecklas samt för att öka studiemotivation. Dock uttryckte lärarna en önskan om mer tid avsatt för formativ bedömning och nämnde några utmaningar med användning av formativ bedömning som till exempel stora klassar och ytterligare administrativa arbete.

Motivation has been shown to be critical for L2 language development and it is thus imperative that teachers consider how classroom methods and tools contribute to student’s motivational state. One such tool, formative feedback, has been shown to help motivate students to complete tasks, and yet formative feedback may also potentially demotivate students under certain conditions. The current study uses semi-structured interviews of five 7-9 grade English teachers in the south of Sweden to investigate some teachers’ views and experiences of written formative feedback and its effect on facilitating or hindering student motivation in the L2 classroom. Regarding usage patterns, we found that teachers generally implement formative feedback in accordance with what is promoted in recent research literature. Furthermore, we found that teachers consider formative feedback to positively affect students in terms of increased motivation and positive academic outcomes. However, teachers also stress the importance of providing the right amount of formative feedback in a timely manner to preclude potentially negative effects such as students not understanding the feedback and thus, becoming demotivated and unable to learn from the feedback provided. Our study indicates that teachers in the Swedish L2 classroom context implement formative feedback to facilitate motivation, since they believe the concept helps students develop their knowledge, furthers engagement, creates awareness of development and provides a driving force within students to work harder.

Evaluation is an integral part of instructional design. Formative evaluation, specifically, is a phase identified in many instructional design models and is recognized as an important step for program improvement and acceptance. Although evaluation has many models and approaches, very few deal specifically with formative evaluation. Further, no one set of guidelines has been found that provides a comprehensive set of procedures for planning and implementing a formative evaluation. Encapsulating such guidelines into a “tool” that automates the process was the author’s initial idea. The author’s intent in Chapter 2 was to find a model or checklist as a stepping off point for future formative evaluation tool development. In lieu of finding such a model, one was created (Chapter 3), pulling from several formative evaluation models and the author’s own experience. Chapter 3 also discusses the purpose behind developing a formative evaluation tool - to create an accessible, efficient, intuitive, and expedient way for instructional designers and developers to formatively evaluate their instruction or instructional materials. Chapter 4 focuses on the methodology selected to evaluate the tool, presented in prototype. Chapter 5 presents the results of the evaluation; comments received from the expert reviewers are presented and ideas for tool improvement are generated. Finally, the Appendices include the formative evaluation tool prototype as well as the documentation that accompanied the tool during its evaluation. The initial idea behind this developmental dissertation was the creation of a formative evaluation tool. The focus of the dissertation itself, however, was on the justification for such a tool, and the literature behind the making of the model and consequently the tool. The result of this developmental dissertation was the prototype of an evaluation tool that with improvements and modifications is deemed promising by the experts who reviewed it. Although designed with formative evaluation in mind, it was generally agreed that this tool could be utilized for both formative and summative evaluation. The expert review was successful not because the tool was without fault, but because the review truly achieved its purpose – to identify areas of strength, weakness, and to suggest improvements. / Ph. D.

Formative assessment is an integral part of teaching, not only as a tool for monitoring student-development, but also as basis for potential adjustments of pedagogical strategies. Therefore, this research paper examines how upper secondary students perceive, and report acting on different forms of formative assessment on writing in the subject of English 6. It also highlights what teachers perceive as key strategies in formative assessment, and how they report applying these strategies for improving students writing when teaching English 6. How teachers report clarifying, sharing, and explaining learning goals and criteria for success to their English 6 students is also discussed. The study was carried out by using mixed methods research and included a student questionnaire, a student focus group interview, and individual teacher interviews. Our results show important similarities and crucial differences in how students and teachers perceive different forms of formative assessment on writing, as well as how they perceive the learning goals and criteria for success in the subject of English 6. Moreover, our study identifies the need for further research on the perceptions of formative assessment on writing from a student viewpoint. In addition, we present ideas on how teachers could work with different forms of formative assessment to better meet the students’ needs.

This study's purpose is to see what factors affect formative assessment and how these factors impact the implementation in the k-3 classroom. The primary methods used have been electronic searches in the databases, ERIC, and Education research complete. Some studies showed that teachers have a positive attitude toward formative assessment, but they have some difficulties with its implementation. Time limitation is another factor that could impact the teachers' planning and the implementation of formative assessment in their classrooms. In some cases, formative assessment tends to lead more towards grades and results rather than proper feedback from the teacher. Teachers' understanding of formative assessment differs from one another depending on for example teachers' experience in teaching, teachers' background, male or female teachers, etc. A couple of studies focused on feedback as both a tool for teachers to assess students and in some situations for praising the students. It is up to the teachers to find a way to present the feedback effectively and equally between the students. Some researchers focused on the dialog between teachers and students as an essential part of the student's learning and development. Other researchers mean that the establishment of “sustained shared thinking” is essential where the focus lies on co-construction in adult-child collaborations.