The Effects of Dynamic Criteria Mapping Assessment on Students’ Conceptions and Writing Skills Development

Year 2018, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 289 - 300, 19.05.2018

Amare Tesfie Birhan

https://doi.org/10.21449/ijate.408957

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Learner center assessment procedure and application is very crucial for students writing skills improvement. Hence, this study aimed to explore the effects of dynamic criteria mapping assessment on students’ conceptions and writing skills development with reference to Vygotsky, zone of proximity development. To examine the issues, time series, quasi experimental research design was employed. The major data gathering tools were pre and post-tests, questionnaire and focus group discussion. Multistage sampling technique was employed to choose the sample of the study, and 63 first year software engineering students were the subjects of the study. Among these participants, 32 students were assigned to experimental group and the other 31 students’ were assigned to control group. The findings indicated that dynamic criteria mapping assessment was effective in improving students writing skills development; students were able to construct sentence with better text structure and arguments. Furthermore, they used various cohesive devices, appropriate punctuation marks and dictions in their writing. Moreover, the assessment techniques had changed their conceptions on learning writing skills and engagment in writing assessment. Generally, the researcher learned that dynamic criteria mapping assessment strategy was vital to enhance students writing skills and conceptions on learning writing skills. Lastly, it is recommended that teachers should prepare various and dynamic criteria with their respective students while they assess their students writing skills, and teachers should not use judgmental assessment techniques.

Keywords

Dynamic criteria mapping assessment, Writing skill, Conception, Zone of proximity development

The Effects of Dynamic Criteria Mapping Assessment on Students’ Conceptions and Writing Skills Development

Abstract

Learner center assessment procedure and application is very crucial for
students writing skills improvement. Hence, this study aimed to explore the
effects of dynamic criteria mapping assessment on students’ conceptions and
writing skills development with reference to Vygotsky, zone of proximity
development. To examine the issues, time series, quasi experimental research
design was employed. The major data gathering tools were pre and post-tests,
questionnaire and focus group discussion. Multistage sampling technique was
employed to choose the sample of the study, and 63 first year software
engineering students were the subjects of the study. Among these participants,
32 students were assigned to experimental group and the other 31 students’ were
assigned to control group. The findings indicated that dynamic criteria mapping
assessment was effective in improving students writing skills development;
students were able to construct sentence with better text structure and
arguments. Furthermore, they used various cohesive devices, appropriate
punctuation marks and dictions in their writing. Moreover, the assessment
techniques had changed their conceptions on learning writing skills and engagment
in writing assessment. Generally, the researcher learned that dynamic criteria
mapping assessment strategy was vital to enhance students writing skills and
conceptions on learning writing skills. Lastly, it is recommended that teachers
should prepare various and dynamic criteria with their respective students
while they assess their students writing skills, and teachers should not use
judgmental assessment techniques.

Keywords

Dynamic criteria mapping assessment, Writing skill, Conception, Zone of proximity development

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