The use of formative assessment techniques in the Geography subject: a case study

Suzana Abd. Mutalib

Abstract

A proper and effective implementation of formative assessment techniques in the classroom will help to improve students_ learning. Oral questioning, exercises, seatwork, quizzes, discussions, projects, assignments and homework are among the common formative assessment techniques applied by teachers during the T&L process. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study undertaken to identify the formative assessment techniques used by geography teachers during the teaching and learning process. A case study design was used, and the study was conducted in one secondary school in Perak, Malaysia. Two Geography teachers participated in the study. Data were obtained through observations, interviews and document analysis. Discussion on the finding was based on the use of formative assessment techniques in the teaching and learning process. The study showed both teachers adopted a variety of assessment techniques to improve the students_ learning and help them achieve the learning objectives. The study also noted that the dominant technique was oral questioning, a technique which is functionally complimentary to other techniques and suitable for different purposes. Using various formative assessment techniques is important to enable teachers to make correct decisions based on the students_ skills and levels of ability. Using various assessment techniques also helps to ensure high validity of the constructs measured. As a whole, the finding of the study significantly demonstrates how formative assessment can be effectively implemented as part of the teaching and learning process in a Geography lesson. It also demonstrates clearly how the oral questioning technique can be used as a major technique in formative assessment. Keywords Formative assessment, formative assessment techniques, teaching and learning Geography.

References

Abd. Murad Salleh. (2003). Proses Penganalisisan Data Kajian Kes Secara Kualitatif. Paper

presented in Seminar Penyelidikan Kualitatif: Teori dan Praktis. Kuala Lumpur, 10

October 2003.

Black, P. & Wiliam, D. (1998). Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through classroom

Assessment. London: School of Education, King College.

Bell, B & Cowie, B. (2000). The Characteristics of Formative Assessment in Science Education.

Science Education, 85, 536–533.

Brookhart, S. M. (2010). How to Assess Higher-order Thinking Skills in Your Classroom.

Alexandria, Virginia: ASCD.

Brookhart, S. M. (2007). Expending Views About Formative Classroom Assessment: A Review

of the Literature, in McMillan J. H (eds.). Formative Classroom Assessment: Theory into

Practice. (pp 43–62). New York: Teachers College Press.

Cizek, G. J. (2010). An Introduction to Formative Assessment: History, Characteristics, and

Challenges. In Andrade, H. L & Cizek, G. J. (eds.). Handbook of Formative Assessment.

(pp 3–17). New York:Routledge.

Chappuis, S & Chappuis J. (2008). The Best Value in Formative Assessment. Educational

Leadership, 65(4), 14–19.

Fisher, D. & Frey, N. (2010). Checking For Understanding: Formative Assessment Techniques

for Your Classroom. New York: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Harlen, W. (2007). Formative Classroom Assessment in Science and Mathematics. In McMillan

(eds.) Formative Classroom Assessment:Theory Into Practice. (pp 116–135). New York:

Teachers College Press.

Marohaini Yusoff. (eds.). (2004). Penyelidikan qualitative: Pengalaman Kerja kajian Lapangan.

Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Universiti Malaya.

Pinchock, N. & Brandt,.W. C. 2009. Connecting Formative Assessment Research to Practice:

An Introductory Guide for Educators. Learning Point Associates. Retrieved from http://

www.learningpt.org/pdfs/FormativeAssessment.pdf on 11 October 2010.

Scherer, M. (2005). Reclaiming Testing. Educational Leadership, 63(3), 9.

Stiggins, R. J. (2001). Student-Involved Classroom Assessment. Third Edition. Upper Sadler

River: Merrill-Prentice Hall.

Stiggins, R. & Chappuis, J. (2006). What a difference a word makes. Journal of Staff

Development, 27(1), 10–14.

Othman Lebar. (2009). Penyelidikan Kualitatif: Pengenalan kepada Teori dan Metod. Tanj0ng

Malim: Penerbitan Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

Xu, Jianzhong. (2010). Homework Purpose Scale for High School Students: A Validation Study.

Educational and Psychological Measurement, 70(3), 459–479.