ERIC Number: EJ1057970
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 37
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1918-5979
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Using Large-Scale Assessment Scores to Determine Student Grades
Miller, Tess
Canadian Journal of Education, v36 n3 p317-353 2013
Many Canadian provinces provide guidelines for teachers to determine students' final grades by combining a percentage of students' scores from provincial large-scale assessments with their term scores. This practice is thought to hold students accountable by motivating them to put effort into completing the large-scale assessment, thereby generating a more accurate assessment of their ability. This study examined teachers' perceptions of the accountability framework underpinning large-scale assessments--in particular, teachers' beliefs and practices related to using students' provincial assessment scores to determine final grades. Questionnaires were distributed to teachers and follow-up interviews were conducted. Findings revealed that teachers did not entirely endorse the practice of using large-scale assessment results to determine student grades; instead, they appeared to be applying the guidelines while at the same time tweaking students' scores as needed to ensure everyone received a passing grade (i.e., at least 50%) in their course. Further, teachers were drawing from the large-scale assessment instrument to guide their instruction.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Grades (Scholastic), Scores, Measurement, Educational Assessment, Teacher Attitudes, Accountability, Questionnaires, Interviews, Grade 9, Middle School Teachers, Mathematics Teachers, Mathematics Tests
Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE). 260 Dalhousie Street Suite 204, Ottawa, ON K1N 7E4, Canada. Tel: 613-241-0018; Fax: 613-241-0019; e-mail: csse-scee@csse.ca; Web site: http://www.csse.ca/CJE/General.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Grade 9; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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