A case study into English classroom assessment practices in three primary schools in Hanoi: Implications for developing a contextualized formative assessment practice framework

Phạm Lan Anh

Main Article Content

Abstract

Formative assessment (FA) has emerged as a lever to raise the quality of the teaching/learning process. While FA is claimed to enhance teaching and learning gains, the implementation of FA in particular settings has not yet been as successful as expected due to a lack of proper frameworks to guide the practice for optimal results. This article attempts to propose some principles toward developing a contextualized formative assessment practice framework (CFAPF), informed by a  case study into classroom assessment practices of teachers of English in three primary schools in Hanoi, Viet Nam. First, several studies on formative assessment practices (FAPs) in Western countries and Hong Kong are reviewed, followed by the rationale for a much needed contextualized framework for the researched classrooms in Hanoi.  Next, the methodology employed in the case study is depicted. Then, based on the major findings extracted from the observed classroom assessment process, on evidence of formative assessment elements embedded in daily teaching strategies, as well as threats to FA, such principles for the suggested framework as particularity, practicality and learning promotion are built up. Finally, the article concludes with an emphasis on some key points to be considered the necessary and sufficient conditions for the successful application of the framework, namely, the importance of daily lesson planning, the simultaneous focus on the three components of FA (i.e., identification of student learning, feedback and feedforward to that learning, and consequent remedies), and considerations of the actual teaching and learning contexts.

Article Details

References

[1] P. Black & D. William, Assessment and classroom learning, Assessment in Education 5 (1) (1998) 7.
[2] S. M. Brookhart & C. M. Moss, Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom, The USA, ASCD, 2009.
[3] D. Carless, Prospects for the implementation of assessment for learning. Assessment in Education, 12(1), (2005) 39.
[4] Bachman. L.F. & Palmer A.S. (1996). Language Testing in Practice. Oxford University Press.
[5] C Colby-Kelly & C. E. Turner, AFL Research in the L2 Classroom and Evidence of Usefulness: Taking Formative Assessment to the Next Level, The Canadian Modern Language Review, 64 (1), (2007), 9.
[6] W. Harlen & J. Winter, The Development of Assessment for Learning: Learning from the Case of Science and Mathematics, Language Testing, 21 (3), (2004) 390.
[7] D. R. Sadler, Formative assessment and the design of instructional systems. Instructional Science, 18, (1989) 119.
[8] P. Black & J. Jones, Formative Assessment and the Learning and Teaching of MFL: Sharing the Language Learning Road Map with the Learners, Language Learning Journal, 34 (Winter), (2006), 4.
[9] D. Lambert & D. Lines, Understanding assessment, The USA, Routledge Falmer, 2000.
[10] K. M. Cauley & J. M. McMillan, Formative Assessment Techniques to Support Student Motivation and Achievement, The Clearing House 83. 1 (2010) 1.
[11] W. J. Popham, Transformative Assessment, The USA: ASCD, 2008.
[12] P. Harris, Employing formative assessment in the classroom, Improving School, 10, Sage Club, (2007) 249.
[13] Cohen. A. (1994). Assessing Language Ability in the Classroom. Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
[14] P. Rea-Dickins, Mirror, mirror on the wall: Identifying processes of classroom assessment. Language Testing, 18(4), (2001) 429.
[15] F. Gatullo, Formative assessment in ELT primary (elementary) classrooms: an Italian case study. Language Testing 17(2), (2000) 278.
[16] P. McKay, Assessing Young Language Learners, The UK, CUP, 2006.
[17] P. Rea-Dickins & S. Gardner, Snares and silver bullets: Disentangling the construct of formative assessment. Language Testing, 17(2), (2000) 217.
[18] J. Abedi, Research and recommendation for formative assessment with English language learners. In Andrade & Cizek (Eds). Handbook of Formative Assessment. New York & London: Routledge, 2010.
[19] H. Torrance & J. Pryor , Investigating Formative Assessment, The USA, Open University Press, 1998.
[20] P. Rea-Dickins, Classroom-based Assessment: Possibilities and Pitfalls, International Handbook of English Language Teaching, International Handbooks of Education, Springer (15), (2007) 505.
[21] Primary English Language Curriculum (Chương trình Tiếng Anh tiểu học), Bộ GD & ĐT, 2010.
[22] National Foreign Languages 2020 Project (Đề án dạy và học ngoại ngữ trong hệ thống giáo dục quốc dân 2008-2012), Bộ GD & ĐT, 2008.
[23] Primary English Teacher Competency Framework, NIES + BC (Viện nghiên cứu khoa học giáo dục và Hội đồng Anh hợp tác), 2011.
[24] L. Cohen, L. Manion & K. R. B.Morrison, Research Methods in Education (sixth edition). London: Routledge, 2007.
[25] C. Lankshear & M. Knobel, A Handbook for Teacher Research, The UK: Open University Press, 2004.
[26] D. Nunan, Understanding Language Classrooms, The UK: Prentice Hall International Ltd, 1989.
[27] S. Stoynoff, Case study in TESOL practice, ELT Journal Volume 58/4 October, (2004) 379.
[28] M. Denscombe, The Good Research Guide, The UK: OUP, 2003.
[29] S. B. Merriam, Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001.
[30] R. K. Yin, Case Study Research: Design and Methods, SAGE, 2009.
[31] [31] C. Gipps , E. Hargreaves & B. McCallum, What Makes a Good Primary School Teacher?: Expert Classroom Strategies, Routledge, 2000.
[32] P. A. Duff, Case Study Research in Applied Linguistics. The USA: LEA, 2008.
[33] R. E. Stake, The Art of Case Study Research, CA: Sage, 1995.
[34] E. S Lincoln & E. G. Guba, Naturalistic Inquiry, SAGE, 1985.
[35] D. Silverman, Doing Qualitative Research: A Comprehensive Guide, SAGE, 2008.
[36] A. Campbell, O. McNamara & P. Gilroy, Practitioner Research and Professional Development in Education, SAGE, 2004.
[37] P. L. Anh, Formative Assessment in Primary English Classrooms in Vietnam, in Davies P.P. (Ed.). New Directions: Assessment and Evaluation. The UK: British Council, (2011) 33.
[38] M. Harris & P. McCann, Assessment, The UK: MacMillan, 1994.
[39] B. Kumaravadivelu, Beyond Methods, The USA, Yale University Press, 2003.
[40] D. Vale & A. Feunteun, Teaching Children English, The UK, CUP, 1995.
[41] S. I. Georgiou & P. Pavlou, Assessing Young Learners, The UK, OUP, 2003.
[42] S. Halliwell, Teaching English in the Primary Classroom, The USA, Longman, 1992.
[43] J. Moon, Children Learning English, MacMillan Press Ltd, 2000.
[44] L. Cameron, Teaching Languages to Young Learners. The UK, CUP, 2001.