Transcript Document

IMPROVING ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
THROUGH PROGRESSIVE ASSESSMENT
Strategy to Inspire Self Motivation and Independent Learning
Alessandra L. De Guzman
Good Samaritan Colleges, Cabanatuan City, Philippines
3rd International Education Conference, Tarlac City, Philippines
18 – 20 May 2011
The Need for Progressive Assessment
Unique circumstances call for a unique approach to English Language Teaching:
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Lack of recognition of the importance of English Language Learning.
Lack of reinforcement to use the English Language.
Poor foundational skills in English for the majority of learners.
Lack of self confidence and initiative to pursue English Language Learning.
Thus arises the need to adapt educational concepts and methods and make strategic
use of technology in order to provide customized interventions for learners.
Progressive Assessment aims to promote active and participative learner
centered educational methodologies in English language teaching making
use of modern technology and individualized instruction.
Educational Technology Integration can serve the objectives of educational
administration, instruction and classroom management by rendering all
forms of knowledge as properly organized and accessible to the learner and
the teacher.
Reading Literacy Diagnosis Program: learning management system that makes use of
computer adaptive tests to provide reliable data and immediate feedback on the
competency profile and baseline skills of individuals and groups, using the Star Reading
Software.
Star Reading combines brief, vocabulary in context items with new authentic text
passage items to help teachers pinpoint students’ reading levels more accurately and
efficiently.
Figure 1: Reading Literacy Diagnosis Process Flow
Figure 2: Star Reading Sample Test Items.
Figure 3: Sample Star Reading Report
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Grade Equivalent: how a student’s test performance compares with that
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other students.
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Instructional Reading Level: the grade level at which the student is at least 80%
proficient at recognizing words and comprehending reading material with
assistance.
• Scale Score: based on the difficulty of questions and the number of correct
responses.
• Zone of Proximal Development: reading level range from which the student should be
selecting books for optimal growth in reading without frustration.
Specific Advantages of Star Reading
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Repeatability
Flexible Administration
For Students: Challenging, Interactive, Brief
For Teachers: Facilitates Individualized Instruction
For Administrators: Regular, Accurate Reports and Comparisons
Accelerated Reader and Need Specific Intervention
Accelerated Reader is a learning information system that enables need specific
interventions by providing individualized feedback for educationally sound and
relevant information that can guide instruction. These assessments are ideal for
diagnosing a student’s strengths and weaknesses and for determining mastery and
comprehension level.
Accelerated Reader’s Process Flow
Conversion of Data into Action at GSC
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DEAR Time
Reading Together Club
English Fever, English Week
Individualized Book Presentation
Readers’ Theater and Stage Plays
Speech Choir, Declamation and Oration
Mock Social Events
Career Preparation
“Good Samaritan Colleges”
Progressive Assessment: An Administrator’s Perspective
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but
those who cannot learn, relearn and unlearn.” Alvin Toffler
Awareness and empowerment enable a path of directed institutional evolution, so
that administrators can be proactive and responsive in the quest to improve
educational quality within the unique circumstances of GSC.
Progressive Assessment and Learner Centered Instruction: The Users Perspective
Assessment techniques should be enabling and should be
constructed to support students’ learning in a contextualized,
meaningful manner. Progressive Assessment has allowed GSC
to shift to a learner centered paradigm where the learning
process is not only enhanced but also individualized.
For teachers, Progressive Assessment gives them accuracy and
flexibility in their approach to the unique learning needs of
each student. Teachers become facilitators and mentors who
inspire independence and self motivated learning among
students.
For students, Progressive assessment allows to take part in
their own learning and use the timely and accurate feedback
to actively pursue their improvement, increase self
confidence and gain knowledge through their own efforts.
“The man who can make hard things easy is the educator.” Ralph Waldo
Emerson
www.goodsam.edu.ph and Facebook.com/gsc1973
Alessandra L. De Guzman
Vice President for Administration
[email protected]
(044)4638302