In learning English, students have their own ways and
methods. Some students think that they enjoy learning English through doing
some exercises related to grammar or writing skills. Other students might think
that by practicing English in terms of speaking will enhance their ability. On
the other hand, the tests done in school will cover all skills which are
reading, listening, speaking, and writing. That means students have to deal
with this situation in class. As the consequences, students who realize that
they are weak in one skill would feel insecure on how they should deal with the
tests they do not really master at. There must be a solution for this.
Since the teachers will grade the students, they should do
it wisely. Teachers should not just take the score from written tests but also
from the students’ performance in class. Some actively-speaking students should get
some appreciation from the teacher because they often dare enough to speak up,
while others do not. Although that speaker-kind-of student has weakness in
writing, their performance in speaking should cover their English comprehension
in so-called a “unique way”.
In Indonesia, the use of scoring rubric in class is getting
popular. Especially in English subject, teachers should develop a fine and
appropriate rubric which later students use to grade one another. This is quite
fair since students will be assessed based on the students’ judgment and the teacher’s
rubric as well. These two considerations in scoring will benefit students.
First, students will know how well they are performing since there are some
criteria that they should achieve based on the rubric. Second, students will experience
how to score someone’s performance based on the rubric given.
This is the actual matter that we, the English teachers,
should focus on. We should not let the students down just because they are weak
in some skills. Moreover, we should enhance and facilitate their excellence to
be even better. Of course we have to make them be sure that other skills are
also important to master. It can be done by giving the material that they find
it attractive.
Hi Pak Daris,
ReplyDeleteThis is marvellous. Having students to do self-assessment and peer-assessment is one of more recent ideas of evaluation. Now, I’d like to talk about another thing and I hope you don’t mind. I have a sister whose son is in kinder garten (the first year). It is very interesting that some time ago she received a letter from her son's school. It was a schedule of test for him. I just could believe my eyes that he has to go through that kind of assessment in his kindie.
Regarding the idea of assessment, do you think the story above represents school’s assessment in the Indonesian teaching and learning context?
That kind of assessment does represent Indonesia's context in teaching and learning. This is actually a mistake that it often happens when students have to deal with many kind of tests that later will be written on the report. What Indonesia students, especially kindergarten student, need is practice and find some motivation why they learn and how to learn enjoyably. They do need the score, but I think motivation to learn is better to be achieved by the students.
DeleteI couldn't agree more. Motivation for kids to come to school and enjoy the learning process is very urgent. I can see that if teachers do not maintain the way they teach (and assess their students), their students will lose their enthusiasm to study. My nephew is sometimes reluctant to go to school because he thinks he already knows what the teachers teach. It is essential that teachers do their best to improve their teaching skills.
DeleteHi, Pak Daris,
ReplyDeleteI totally go with you. Making assessment rubrics is really a time consuming activity, though. But, not all items are eligible to be made into rubric items. At first I thought that by having a well prepared assessment rubric, I can help myself in terms of assessing. But, I put myself on a difficult situation as a result of having different but helping assessment rubric from the school assessment system.
Good luck for you.
Yap... rubrics make us the teacher have something meaningful to observe. Students can be both active and also willing to follow the steps on how we suppose to score a performance.
DeleteHi Bu Endah and Pak Dariss,
DeleteAre you familiar with this website: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/?
This is a helpful site to create your rubric. Check this one out and we can discuss it again.
There are many ways to learn English. Somehow we may follow what the students like, for instance two years ago I taught listening through songs and the students liked it, but I did the same thing last year to the new students and the response was different, they did not like it. Therefore, I used the other ways for listening section. In conclusion, our students are important assets. We should do our best for the best result. Great ideas, bro. Cheers.
ReplyDelete