This research paper looks at teachers’ views, and use, of formative assessment in the subject of English 6. It also highlights students understanding and processing of feedback and their opinions of eight assessment tools. The study was carried out using mixed methods research with individual teacher interviews, a student focus group interview, and a questionnaire. My finding shows the difficulties with identifying formative assessment and working with this in a way that helps students in their development of English 6, and the need for tools to make feedback and guidance clearer for students. Furthermore, this study identifies the need for guidance from the Swedish national agency of education regarding how teachers should incorporate formative assessment in their classroom.

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Academics encounter problems with the selection, evaluation, testing and implementation of e-assessment software tools. The researcher experienced these problems while adopting e-assessment at the university where she is employed. Hence she undertook this study, which is situated in schools and departments in Computing-related disciplines, namely Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Technology at South African Higher Education Institutions. The literature suggests that further research is required in this domain. Furthermore, preliminary empirical studies indicated similar disabling factors at other South African tertiary institutions, which were barriers to long-term implementation of e-assessment. Despite this, academics who are adopters of e-assessment indicate satisfaction, particularly when conducting assessments with large classes. Questions of the multiple choice genre can be assessed automatically, leading to increased productivity and more frequent assessments. The purpose of this research is to develop an evaluation framework to assist academics in determining which e-assessment tool to adopt, enabling them to make more informed decisions. Such a framework would also support evaluation of existing e-assessment systems. The underlying research design is action research, which supported an iterative series of studies for developing, evaluating, applying, refining, and validating the SEAT (Selecting and Evaluating an e-Assessment Tool) Evaluation Framework and subsequently an interactive electronic version, e-SEAT. Phase 1 of the action research comprised Studies 1 to 3, which established the nature, context and extent of adoption of e-assessment. This set the foundation for development of SEAT in Phase 2. During Studies 4 to 6 in Phase 2, a rigorous sequence of evaluation and application facilitated the transition from the manual SEAT Framework to the electronic evaluation instrument, e-SEAT, and its further evolution. This research resulted in both a theoretical contribution (SEAT) and a practical contribution (e-SEAT). The findings of the action research contributed, along with the literature, to the categories and criteria in the framework, which in turn, contributed to the bodies of knowledge on MCQs and e-assessment. The final e-SEAT version, the ultimate product of this action research, is presented in Appendix J1. For easier reference, the Appendices are included on a CD, attached to the back cover of this Thesis.. / Computing / PhD. (Information Systems)

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Nursing programs have traditionally used teacher-developed multiple-choice (MCQ) examinations to prepare students for licensure. Researchers have determined that poorly constructed MCQ tests used as formative and summative evaluations may penalize nursing students and impact progression and retention in nursing programs. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to examine issues related to the use of teacher-developed MCQ examinations as the only method of student assessment in the theory component of nursing courses. The National League for Nursing Core Competencies for Nurse Educators and the revised Bloom's Taxonomy were used as the conceptual frameworks for this study. The Director of the Nursing Program and 9 faculty members participated. Data were collected from a review of documents, 2 focus groups, faculty-maintained diaries, and an interview. During data analysis, categories were identified and themes emerged, revealing the key findings. Using a single method alone to assess student learning limited the opportunity for formative assessment, the ability to assess higher order thinking, and the development of metacognition on the part of students. To assist faculty in creating assessments of student learning that would address these themes, a 3-day faculty professional development project followed by 4 monthly lunch and learn sessions was designed. Providing additional faculty development in assessment methods may promote positive social change as it may ultimately increase the retention of qualified students to meet the demand for registered nurses within the community.

The purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators‟ perception of Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) as summative assessment for students‟ clinical competence ,with the aim of recommending alternatives to the current situation. The rationale behind the study is that the researcher became aware of concerns raised by nurse educators regarding the appropriateness of OSCE as summative assessment of students clinical competence and differences of opinion on the matter. An explorative, descriptive, contextual, qualitative research design was chosen. The sample included nurse educators actively involved in OSCE as summative assessment of nursing students in the provincial nursing college for at least 5 years or more. Data was collected by means of two (2) focus group interview sessions with fourteen (14) participants. During data analysis it became clear that data saturation had not been reached and a third focus group interview was conducted with seven (7) participants from the original sample who were available. The focus of the interviews was to explore participants‟ perception of Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation as summative assessment for students‟ clinical competence. The data was independently analyzed by the researcher as well as an independent co-coder according to the principles for content analysis as described by Creswell (2008:251). Three (3) themes and nine (9) sub-themes emerged from the data collected from participants. The first theme described the value of OSCE as summative assessment method for students‟ clinical competence. Theme two described the obstacles in using OSCE as summative assessment for students‟ clinical competence. Theme three described the suggested alternatives. The collected data was discussed and integrated with relevant national and international literature to culminate in three (3) conclusive statements. The conclusive statements served as basis for recommending alternatives to the nursing educators and managers in order to enhance the value of OSCE as summative assessment forstudents‟ clinical competence. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The purpose of this study was to explore nurse educators‟ perception of Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) as summative assessment for students‟ clinical competence ,with the aim of recommending alternatives to the current situation. The rationale behind the study is that the researcher became aware of concerns raised by nurse educators regarding the appropriateness of OSCE as summative assessment of students clinical competence and differences of opinion on the matter. An explorative, descriptive, contextual, qualitative research design was chosen. The sample included nurse educators actively involved in OSCE as summative assessment of nursing students in the provincial nursing college for at least 5 years or more. Data was collected by means of two (2) focus group interview sessions with fourteen (14) participants. During data analysis it became clear that data saturation had not been reached and a third focus group interview was conducted with seven (7) participants from the original sample who were available. The focus of the interviews was to explore participants‟ perception of Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation as summative assessment for students‟ clinical competence. The data was independently analyzed by the researcher as well as an independent co-coder according to the principles for content analysis as described by Creswell (2008:251). Three (3) themes and nine (9) sub-themes emerged from the data collected from participants. The first theme described the value of OSCE as summative assessment method for students‟ clinical competence. Theme two described the obstacles in using OSCE as summative assessment for students‟ clinical competence. Theme three described the suggested alternatives. The collected data was discussed and integrated with relevant national and international literature to culminate in three (3) conclusive statements. The conclusive statements served as basis for recommending alternatives to the nursing educators and managers in order to enhance the value of OSCE as summative assessment forstudents‟ clinical competence. / Thesis (MCur)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The presented diploma thesis deals with the use of formative assessment in the educational area Man and His World. Its outcome offers a possible way of solving the shortcomings of the area in question which negatively affects pupils' attitudes towards the school subjects of this educational area. The theoretical part presents findings about the assessment in general, namely its definition, presentation of functions, types and forms of assessment. It also emphasizes the relationship between the objectives and assessment which will be a pivotal one in the educational area in question. It also discusses the specifics of this educational area in relation to the impact on pupils' attitudes. Findings about formative assessment are focused on the definition, analysis of advantages and methods of implementation into teaching. The empirical part is based on the findings from the theoretical part and is carried out by a mixed research design. Questionnaire, interview and observation was used as methods to conduct the research. The aim was to find out whether the pupils who are assessed formatively have a more positive attitude than the pupils, who are assessed only summatively. The established hypothesis assumes that the pupils who are assessed formatively would have a better attitude towards the subject,...

This paper examines the impact of teachers' formative feedback on intermediate drafts on student writing development and its interrelationship with summative assessment. Formative feedback is advocated for its benefits on learners writing development; however, its usage in writing instruction at the upper-secondary level is met with frustrations from teachers and students alike. This paper endeavors to draw upon international research on the topic, synthesize the results and correlate it to the educational context of ESL teaching of writing in Swedish upper-secondary schools to elucidate what formative feedback practices are beneficial and how summative aspects can impact them. Research shows that feedback that is encouraging, investigative, and deals with global and local issues alike is more beneficial for facilitating writing development in a new genre. However, teachers should be mindful of overusing imperatives as they can act as demotivators, and they should also be mindful of the toll engaging with feedback takes on learners. Furthermore, teachers should not use grades to motivate feedback uptake, as it does not incentivize learners to do meaningful revisions. Lastly, more research should examine how formative feedback can illustrate students' writing standards without impeding benefits to writing development.

This explorative research paper looks at the attitudes and experiences of four EFL teachers towards assessment of English as a foreign language. The study was carried out using qualitative research with semi-structured interviews. The paper discusses factors that impact attitudes towards assessment. Our findings show that assessment is affected by a variety of factors, including colleagues, the head teacher and guiding documents. Furthermore, this paper identifies the need for more teacher education regarding the process of assessment, specifically formative assessment.