The research is based on fieldwork in the Johannesburg East District where fifteen teachers from different schools participated. The teachers were from a variety of backgrounds in teaching the subject. Each of the teachers voluntarily completed an open-ended questionnaire that was based on their own interpretation of the setting of formal assessment tests or examinations. Document analysis was performed on the preliminary theory examinations that were set by the teachers using an adapted form of Krathwohl‟s two-dimensional taxonomy which was made specific for CAT. The teachers were requested to supply an example of a taxonomy which they themselves had used when analyzing the preliminary theory examination according to cognitive levels. The research findings were derived from the responses to the questionnaires that indicated the teachers‟ opinions about the setting of formal assessments as well as from formal test papers the teachers provided. The vast majority of the participant teachers used examinations set by others, either those purchased from publishers or publically accessible past papers downloaded from the internet with minimal change. It appears that the teachers did not use any taxonomy of cognitive levels even when they designed their own question papers. The cognitive level addressed was primarily memorisation and recall. The teachers were more concerned about the format and style of their examination papers than the cognitive levels the papers addressed. Additionally the overwhelming majority did not believe that training in assessment design would be of value to them (as experienced teachers), although some suggested that such training may be useful for beginning teachers. This suggests that further research on the teachers‟ experiences in using taxonomies when setting formal assessments, as well as potential in-service training interventions that address their knowledge of cognitive levels and appropriate assessments is needed. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

The purpose of this study is to explore the professional knowledge of recruiters and how they balance formal assessment methods with intuition during recruitment processes. This will be examined through three questions; What characteristics do recruiters value as important within their profession, and how are they developed? What formal assessment methods do recruiters use, and how are they used to get an accurate image of the applicant? How do recruiters use intuition in the assessment of a candidate? The study is grounded in a qualitative methodology and the empirical data consist of eight interviews with recruiters. The analysis has been conducted through a thematic analysis based on the interviews, with the aim of finding patterns and reappering themes. The results of the thematic analysis have been further analyzed in terms of competence, qualification, and professional knowledge as well as a theory on experience based learning. The results of our study shows that recruitment processes are extensive and demands an amount of professional knowledge and competency, which is acquired largely through experience. In our interviews we learned that recruitment should mainly occur through formal assessment methods, and unbound by subjective emotions. Through the analysis we saw that intuition influences the way recruiters use formal assessment methods, rather than using intuition as an assessment method of its own.

Learning and assessment are inextricably intertwined, since assessment not only measures learning, but future learning is also dependent on assessment. The purpose of this two phase sequential mixed-methods study was to examine the interplay between informal and formal assessment in Grade 9 EFAL classrooms in order to gain a better understanding of teachers’ assessment practises. Argued from a constructivist point of view, the study endorses continuous assessment (CASS), which balances informal and formal assessment. In order to direct the study towards the stated purpose, the researcher embarked on a literature study to contextualise English as First Additional Language against the background of educational developments in South Africa since 1994 and to examine assessment of English First Additional Language in an OBE framework. The literature study was followed by an empirical study. By applying a sequential mixed-methods research design, 66 conveniently sampled EFAL teachers in the Johannesburg-North District of the Gauteng Department of Education participated in the quantitative phase of the empirical study. By means of a survey as strategy of inquiry, these teachers completed a questionnaire. Six randomly selected teachers from the initial sample participated in the qualitative phase of the empirical study which followed a case study strategy of inquiry and consisted of individual interviews and observations. The empirical research findings revealed that the sampled teachers experienced the official Departmental documents as regulatory, overwhelming and ambiguous and that they gave more attention to formal assessment than informal assessment. Due to this emphasis on formal assessment, the teachers felt uncertain about the purposes of informal assessment which, as a consequence, was considered as less important than formal assessment. A preference of conventional assessment methods was also disclosed which implied that the sampled teachers were not willing to experiment with alternative assessment methods. In conclusion, the researcher discovered that although CASS was implemented in the sampled teachers’ classrooms, learner-centred teaching founded on constructivism with the aim of encouraging scaffolding, was not high on the teachers’ teaching agendas. / MEd (Learning and Teaching), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Learning and assessment are inextricably intertwined, since assessment not only measures learning, but future learning is also dependent on assessment. The purpose of this two phase sequential mixed-methods study was to examine the interplay between informal and formal assessment in Grade 9 EFAL classrooms in order to gain a better understanding of teachers’ assessment practises. Argued from a constructivist point of view, the study endorses continuous assessment (CASS), which balances informal and formal assessment. In order to direct the study towards the stated purpose, the researcher embarked on a literature study to contextualise English as First Additional Language against the background of educational developments in South Africa since 1994 and to examine assessment of English First Additional Language in an OBE framework. The literature study was followed by an empirical study. By applying a sequential mixed-methods research design, 66 conveniently sampled EFAL teachers in the Johannesburg-North District of the Gauteng Department of Education participated in the quantitative phase of the empirical study. By means of a survey as strategy of inquiry, these teachers completed a questionnaire. Six randomly selected teachers from the initial sample participated in the qualitative phase of the empirical study which followed a case study strategy of inquiry and consisted of individual interviews and observations. The empirical research findings revealed that the sampled teachers experienced the official Departmental documents as regulatory, overwhelming and ambiguous and that they gave more attention to formal assessment than informal assessment. Due to this emphasis on formal assessment, the teachers felt uncertain about the purposes of informal assessment which, as a consequence, was considered as less important than formal assessment. A preference of conventional assessment methods was also disclosed which implied that the sampled teachers were not willing to experiment with alternative assessment methods. In conclusion, the researcher discovered that although CASS was implemented in the sampled teachers’ classrooms, learner-centred teaching founded on constructivism with the aim of encouraging scaffolding, was not high on the teachers’ teaching agendas. / MEd (Learning and Teaching), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

This research is concerned with an investigation into the development of a formal diagnostic assessment tool for spelling in the foundation phase. A literature study and information acquired from educators provided information to compile a suitable spelling list that could be used as a diagnostic tool in the foundation phase. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to fifty educators Who provided their expert opinion regard the spelling list. This was followed up by second questionnaire that was based on the analysis and interpretation of the first. The Delphi-technique was applied to this investigation. The study was complete when consensus was reached among the educators with regard to which words should be included in the final spelling list. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This research is concerned with an investigation into the development of a formal diagnostic assessment tool for spelling in the foundation phase. A literature study and information acquired from educators provided information to compile a suitable spelling list that could be used as a diagnostic tool in the foundation phase. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to fifty educators Who provided their expert opinion regard the spelling list. This was followed up by second questionnaire that was based on the analysis and interpretation of the first. The Delphi-technique was applied to this investigation. The study was complete when consensus was reached among the educators with regard to which words should be included in the final spelling list. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

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