Quality of Assessment in Teaching Learning Process: Evidences from Students’ Self–Efficacy in Chemistry

Shilna V; Dr K Abdul Gafoor

Volume : V, Issue : II, February - 2016

Quality of Assessment in Teaching Learning Process: Evidences from Students’ Self–Efficacy in Chemistry

Shilna V, Dr K Abdul Gafoor

Abstract :

 Globally, examination reform has been a much–discussed theme for many decades. Assessment of learning is technically the process of achievement testing of the attributes targeted by the instructional process. Quality assessments should strike a balance between evaluating basic skills and the capability to transfer their learning to new contexts. Reforms in assessment practices consider many factors including student anxiety, attitude towards school and attitude towards subjects. Recent criticism against evaluation practices highlights them being very weak and adopting lenient grading which affects quality of education at all levels. However, when students believe that a subject matter is hard it creates examination anxiety irrespective of the mode of assessment. Different subjects generate different types of anxiety. This study compared the efficacy beliefs of students towards assessment practices in select hard spots of chemistry with their self–efficacy beliefs about nature of chemistry in general as well as their efficacy in chemistry classroom and co–curricular activities. The students are having least self–efficacy beliefs with respect to assessment even at this state of examination reform. In this context, assessment reforms have to be reconsidered, to strengthen the teaching learning process in ways that will turn students efficacious. Students need acquaintance to deal with the assessment in a healthy way. Loosening of assessment– evaluation system and grading all with A ,B will not serve the purpose. Increasing the number of unofficial, less formal and more open examination practices, improving the teaching learning process and quality of instruction may reduce examination anxiety among students.