Abstract:

The approach to school assessment in Slovakia is based on summative evaluation of the outcomes of the educational process. OECD education analysts recommend that teachers assess their students not only using grades, but also by providing them with targeted feedback on the quality of their learning process, i.e. formative assessment. The purpose of formative assessment is to provide students with regular and meaningful feedback and at the same time, keep teachers constantly informed about the way students are learning. Therefore, teachers can modify the educational process if necessary. This paper presents the results of research that aimed to investigate the use of formative assessment tools in school practice. The study answers the question: Which assessment tools are currently used in teaching science at primary schools in Slovakia? The opinions of primary school science teachers (N=65) were collected using a quantitative research method, specifically, a scale questionnaire. The reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha) of the questionnaire in the formative vs. summative assessment subscale was α=0.822. The research results indicated statistically significant differences between the frequency of use of formative vs. summative assessment (p<0.001). Primary school teachers preferred summative assessment tools to formative ones. As the most frequent reason, the respondents stated the lack of familiarity with formative assessment tools and their use. These findings indicate that it is necessary to focus on teacher education in formative assessment, as teachers need to acquire the proper knowledge and skills necessary to implement formative assessment tools into their teaching. Thus, students can be exposed to the long-term and overarching positive influence of formative assessment.

Acknowledgements:
This research was supported by the KEGA No. 004UPJŠ-4/2020 “Creation, Implementation, and Verification of the Effectiveness of Digital Library with the Formative Assessment Tools for the Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Informatics at the Elementary School” and VEGA No. 1/0265/17 “Formative Assessment in Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Informatics” grants.

Keywords:

Formative assessment, formative assessment tools, summative assessment tools, questionnaire survey, primary school teachers.