Primary science assessment item setters' misconceptions concerning biological science concepts

dc.creator	Hong Kwen BOO
dc.date	2007-06-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:25:55Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:25:55Z
dc.identifier	1609-4913
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/b2ad3a824a764dffadc73d4d67fac55a
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/21522
dc.description	Assessment is an integral and vital part of teaching and learning, providing feedback on progress through the assessment period to both learners and teachers. However, if test items are flawed because of misconceptions held by the question setter, then such test items are invalid as assessment tools. Moreover, such flawed items are also likely to generate or perpetuate misconceptions among pupils. Research has shown that misconceptions among pupils are resistant to change, and that they persist even with formal science instruction. This paper highlights question setters' (or teachers') misconceptions concerning some key primary school level biological science concepts in the areas of cells, plant and animal systems and functions. It is based on a scrutiny of more than 200 sets of primary science examination papers in schools (first and second semestral assessment science papers, i.e. SA1 and SA2) in three different contexts: vetting school examination papers with a view to helping schools improve the quality of their examination questions; conducting school-based workshops on how to craft better examination questions; conducting in-service courses for primary school teachers. Suggestions for addressing the problems highlighted are also discussed.
dc.language	English
dc.language	Chinese
dc.publisher	Hong Kong Institute of Education
dc.relation	http://www.ied.edu.hk/apfslt/v8_issue1/boohk/index.htm
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1609-4913
dc.source	Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 7 (2007)
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Primary science assessment item setters' misconceptions concerning biological science concepts
dc.type	article