Conceptions and practices of classroom assessment by primary school English language subject teachers in Tanzania
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Date
2019
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study reports the findings about teachers’ conceptions and practices of classroom assessment from the perspectives of primary school English language subjectteachers. The fundamental argument of this study is that teachers’ conceptions and practices of classroom assessment are interrelated aspects with multifaceted foundation. The objectives of the study were to examine teachers’ conceptions of classroom assessment; to analyse the assessment practices that teachers use in assessing pupils; to examine the relationship between teachers’ conceptions and classroom assessment practices; and to explore the foundation for teachers’ conceptions of classroom assessment. A mixed methods research approach (MMRA) was sequentially used based on a pragmatic paradigm. A survey and case study designs were used to collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The methods used for data collection were questionnaire, interview, observation and documentary review. The sample for the study was 72 teachers for quantitative and 10 teachers for qualitative phases respectively. The descriptive statistics suggested that, primarily, classroom assessment was conceived by teachers as a tool for improving teaching and learning and secondly as a tool for accountability. The teachers held both conceptions though the improvement conceptions surpassed the accountability conceptions. The inferential statistics suggestedthat among the selected demographic characteristics, there was a statistically significant association betweenteachers’ teaching experience and teachers’ conceptions for classroom assessment as a tool for improvement of teaching and learning. However, the interview data suggested that experiencein terms of years of teaching, teaching level of the teacher and in-service classroom assessment training shaped teachers’ conceptions. Furthermore, the findings indicated that conventional assessment practices were mostly employed regardless disparities in teachers’ conceptions. On the other hand, the findings indicated that the foundation for teachers’ conceptions of classroom assessment is rooted in cultural aspect, education system, role modelling, collegial effect and attitude. Thus, teachers’ conceptions of classroom assessment are mostly a function of contextual factors. The study recommends that teachers’ conceptions of classroom assessment must be treated as core component in assessment if a country’s education system aspires for meaningful classroom assessment. Moreover, teacher-training colleges should integrate highly classroom assessment courses in the conventional teacher programmes. By doing so, Teacher Training Colleges may produce well-informed teachers about classroom assessment ethos, consequently the teachers may become conceptions change agents, and role models for subsequent novice teachers. Further, it is important to retain teachers in the teaching profession for a long time for them to acquire the practical details of classroom assessment. Finally, it is recommended that professional development programmes for teachers especially in classroom assessment should be made mandatory to all teachers practicing classrooms assessment.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF LB1775.8.T34R832)
Keywords
Teachers, Primary teachers, English language, Tanzania
Citation
Rugambuka, Innocent Buberwa (2019) Conceptions and practices of classroom assessment by primary school English language subject teachers in Tanzania, Doctoral dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam