A DISCUSSION ON BENCHMARK

ASSESSMENTS BOTH NATIONALLY AND

INTERNATIONALLY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN

AND IMPROVE STANDARDS

“The difference between school and life? In school, you are taught a lesson and then

given a test. In life, you are given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

INTRODUCTION

We live in a technologically advanced society, where facts are just a click of a

button away.

Learning is no longer merely memorising facts and answering

questions.

Today we need to equip our children with the skills that they need to

interpret, analyse, criticize and utilize this information.

We need to look at a benchmarking system which will tells us whether our

children have these skills in place.

Why Benchmark?

Marketing tool?

Evaluating standards

Analysing skillsProvide teachers with feedback

School positioning

academically

Conquesta Olympiad

Mathematics Olympiad- AMESA Challenge

National Science Olympiad

I.E.B. Shared Assessment – Maths, English, Afrikaans, Natural Science etc.(for Grade 7)

I.E.B. Core skills assessment – Grade 3, 6 & 9

Own school Benchmark – Mathematics & English (In –house school bench mark)

NATIONAL BENCHMARK

CONQUESTA

•Grade 4 – All papers 60 minutes ; 30 questions

•Grade 5 -7 All papers 90 minutes ; 50 questions

Duration

•Once off Enrolment Fee of R10 per student plus R9 per subject chosen

Cost

•4 Term schools – mid August

•3 Term schools – mid September

Dates

CONQUESTA OLYMPIAD

ADVANTAGES OF CONQUESTA

•Easy to write•Multiple choice•Grade 1 – Grade 7•Variety of subjects •Children receive certificates•School gets quantitative results and can see how they performed in relation to other schools. In form of National averages

DISADVANTAGES OF CONQUESTA

Multiple choice often ends up as a multiple guess!

Timing

Layout can be confusing for the child

Feedback to schools

No breakdown given – skills

Top results are only calculated from the 10 highest percentages

MATHS & SCIENCE ASSESSMENTS

Currently South Africa is statistically ranked as one of the weakest countries in Sciences and Mathematics particularly in the junior grades. In seeking to address this status it is imperative that an understanding and love of Mathematics and Science is inculcated in the younger learners.

AMESA CHALLENGE

Aims:

•Intended as a vehicle to enhance the quality of the teaching and learning of Mathematics.•To generate an interest in Mathematics.•To promote problem solving in Mathematics education.•To emphasise the importance of reading in mathematical activity.•To provide a diagnostic tool to enable teachers to identify learners’ problem areas

Structur

e

•Creative

•Multiple Choice

Nature

•Conceptual Knowledge

•Application of Knowledge

Skills

•Problem solving, reasoning, communication and general mathematical thinking.

Format &

Organisation

•First & final rounds

•Dates.

•Memorandums provided for teachers

Cost

•First round free, final round requires a R5.00 donation to AMESA

Awards

•Certificates awarded for averages of 50% and above

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE ABOUT?

NATIONAL SCIENCE

OLYMPIADThe Olympiads are run Nationally by the National Science Olympiad & the KZN wing of SAASTE (The South African Association of Science and Technology Educators)

IEB CORE SKILLS TEST

Assessment

• Used in Grade 6 & 9

Purpose

• To determine academic proficiency of learners at the end of Grade 6 & 9

Benchmark

• Formative diagnostic intention

• Positive, qualitative impact on teaching

BACKGROUND

DESIGN OF THE TEST

Non curriculum

based

Focus on skills and outcomes

Duration Marking Process

IEB Workshops

INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARKING

ASSESSMENTS

INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS

IBT (International Benchmark Test)

ICAS – (International Competitions & Assessments for Schools)

SUBJECTS OFFERED

IBT English (Grades 3 – 10) Mathematics (Grades 3 –

10) Science (Grades 3 – 8)

SIAT English (Grades 3 – 12) Mathematics (Grades 3

– 12) Science (Grades 3 – 12)

Locating information

Inferring, predicting, drawing conclusions and reasoning.

Strands: Reading, comprehension, spelling, punctuation, grammar & vocabulary

IBTReading and language skills in a range of texts.

reading for meaning in literary & factual texts

Syntax and vocabulary

SIAT

CONTENT OF ENGLISH PAPERS

Interpreting data

Inferring

Predicting

Drawing conclusions

Reasoning & problem solving

IBT Mathematical skills:

Number and Arithmetic

Algebra and Patterns

Measures and Units

Space and Geometry

Chance and Data

SIAT

CONTENT COVERED IN MATHEMATICS PAPERS

CONTENT COVERED IN SCIENCE PAPERS

Focus Areas: Life, Earth, Physical

Various Skills Covered

IBT Focus Areas: Earth and Beyond, Natural and Processed Materials, Life and Living and Energy and Change

Various Skills Covered

SIAT

IBT & SIAT COMPARISONS

IBTCosts (2011)

R80 per learner per subject

Duration, Format & Dates

Duration:

50 minutes to 1 hour

Format:

Multiple choice (40 – 50 items)

Date:

September?

SIATCosts (2010)

Orders of less than 20 papers per grade, per subject = R120 each

Orders of 20 papers or more per grade, per subject = R90 each

Duration Format & Dates

Duration:

55 minutes to 1 hour

Format:

Multiple Choice (40 – 55 items)

Date:

August

FEEDBACK & RESULTS

IBT Graphs Excel Spreadsheets School Report Individual Report Regional, National,

International Placing

Question by Question Analysis

Certificates

SIAT Graphs Excel

Spreadsheets School Report Individual Report Regional Placing Question by

Question Analysis Certificates

MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTING The majority of benchmark tests use multiple choice

testing technique Questions are graded Pupils should be exposed to this form of testing and

should be practised in it Used in secondary and tertiary institutions Pupils should be confident in this technique and

should have the necessary skills for it

CONCLUSION

As schools we are always looking towards improving our products and ensuring that our pupils are well equipped for high school and tertiary education.

In order to achieve this we need to critically analyse our strengths and weaknesses curricularly.

Benchmarking is an essential tool to measure where the school is on a regional, national & international level.

It should not be seen as negative or threatening it should be viewed in a constructive and positive light.

“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.”

B F Skinner