What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean???

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:45:36 GMT

metz — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:45:36 GMT

SAHM_TAN:
Han Seo:
Moving away from pen and paper assessment (aka exam) means other forms of assessment e.g. portfolio, project work. If the whole culture of being obsessive about grades does not change, changing the mode of assessment isn't going to be of much help, really. Parents and teachers will work around the system. For example, in project work, the teachers (and parents) may hand hold the students all the way, editing and re-editing their work until it is almost perfect, if they are under pressure to produce results.

Yup, JC level has project work, I think that's what it's called, and there are so many rehearsals, with the trs, before the final grading.

This is already happening in GEP.

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:31:20 GMT

janet88 — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:31:20 GMT

Education or any other ministry like housing/transport/defence is not about fun...it affects our dear children a great deal. I hope this talk about moving away from less and paper assessment at PSLE is just for discussion.

After 6 years of primary school education, there is a need to assess what our kids know...provided the 6 years studying in school have been truly fruitful meaning less reliance on tutors

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:48:23 GMT

Harlequin — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:48:23 GMT

It was just a suggestion by a/some parent/s? I would not read too much into it...

In a way, I kind of understand the dry-humor of the minister that brought it up in the discussion.

May be the minister is like our fellow member Pirate once said --- say what you want... (and we shall talk about it, in an open discussion... to spook/jolt those that have much to say before they say it or even thinking about saying it (??!!)

It's like 2 weeks ago another minister mentioned--- someone suggested to impose the restriction on selling your HDB flats back to the HDB!

異曲同工之妙？！

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:15:27 GMT

SAHM_TAN — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:15:27 GMT

Han Seo:
Moving away from pen and paper assessment (aka exam) means other forms of assessment e.g. portfolio, project work. If the whole culture of being obsessive about grades does not change, changing the mode of assessment isn't going to be of much help, really. Parents and teachers will work around the system. For example, in project work, the teachers (and parents) may hand hold the students all the way, editing and re-editing their work until it is almost perfect, if they are under pressure to produce results.

Yup, JC level has project work, I think that's what it's called, and there are so many rehearsals, with the trs, before the final grading.

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:59:28 GMT

Laura02 — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:59:28 GMT

Hmm … so if MOE decides that we need people who are confident public speakers, they give a student a passage to read in front of a class of his or her peers (like an oral test) …

Or if they want to train presentation skills, they give the students an hour in front of the computer (with internet access) to write up a presentation on a given topic, then ask the kid to make a presentation in front of a panel of examiners … (again, like an oral test)

Or if they want to test how quickly a student can pick up a new concept, an examiner can teach the concept then ask them to apply the concept (like for math or science)

Or if they decide we need more out of the box thinkers …but … maybe give bonus points? (like for HMT when applying for certain schools)

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:46:59 GMT

janet88 — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:46:59 GMT

Preparing for PSLE is stressful…to move away to less pen/paper assessments or anything else is not going to help either. In fact, parents & kids are going to be MORE stressed. Which parent will want their kid to be that guinea pig batch of new testing? I wouldn’t want.

Oral exam is an important component…it carries substantial weightage. After son was done with it in Aug, we went for ice cream to relax.

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:49:20 GMT

Han Seo — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:49:20 GMT

Moving away from pen and paper assessment (aka exam) means other forms of assessment e.g. portfolio, project work. If the whole culture of being obsessive about grades does not change, changing the mode of assessment isn’t going to be of much help, really. Parents and teachers will work around the system. For example, in project work, the teachers (and parents) may hand hold the students all the way, editing and re-editing their work until it is almost perfect, if they are under pressure to produce results.

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:25:20 GMT

SAHM_TAN — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 06:25:20 GMT

Hmmmm, I think less paper and pen assessment would be like show and tell for lower primary which the kids are doing. Maybe other examples could be setting up experiments to test hypothesis for science, performance task for maths. If really less paper and pen for PSLE then prepare to expect more days allocated for exams.

Parents are rather stressed by oral exams now right? So how would less paper and pen help wor?

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:10:02 GMT

Nebbermind — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:10:02 GMT

This is taken from CNA

[quote]
Minister open to less pen-and-paper assessments at PSLE
Posted: 19 March 2013 1939 hrs

SINGAPORE: Education Minister Heng Swee Keat says he is open to moving away from pen-and-paper assessments at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

But he cautions that even holistic methods of assessment have drawbacks.

He said: \"For instance, if we use a broader range of assessment, it means the child is subject to even more modes of assessment. This by itself can also be another source of stress.

\"And I think if we have to do this across the entire system - and you're looking at something like 40,000 students - how do we ensure standards are maintained right across these different modes?\"

Mr Heng was responding to a suggestion on the debut episode of \"Ask Minister\", a Channel NewsAsia show which airs at 8pm Tuesday.

The show, a Talking Point special on Budget 2013, gets ministers into the studio to discuss the Budget with Singaporeans via web chat.

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew takes the hot seat next week.

- CNA/ir [/quote]

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:59:16 GMT

Pen88n — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:59:16 GMT

Take multiple choice questions online - no need for paper n pen and easier marking by computer!

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:42:14 GMT

Joule — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:42:14 GMT

janet_lee88:
I read with interest regarding this issue. How is it possible to use less pen and paper? Oral doesn't use pen and paper...but is it possible to test students orally for other components?

off hand / my impression

they will test the kid things that the parent will find it hard to make the kid prepare for.

no pen/ paper? no problem. Make videeeooo presentation / editing

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:02:21 GMT

janet88 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:02:21 GMT

Oppsgal:
janet_lee88:
I read with interest regarding this issue. How is it possible to use less pen and paper? Oral doesn't use pen and paper...but is it possible to test students orally for other components?

Maybe use typing answers and email?

Using a new approach and moving away from less pen/paper is new...but are our teachers equipped and trained to prepare our kids for PSLE ??? That is a big question mark. Still find it hard to comprehend why introduce all these stuff to 11/12 year old kids

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:58:13 GMT

Oppsgal — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:58:13 GMT

janet_lee88:
I read with interest regarding this issue. How is it possible to use less pen and paper? Oral doesn't use pen and paper...but is it possible to test students orally for other components?

Maybe use typing answers and email?

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:07:00 GMT

janet88 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:07:00 GMT

ngl2010:
What is it about? :yikes: Where did you read it? Not affecting this year's PSLE, right?

I don't think it will take effect so soon.
I worry more about the 2016 PSLE (daughter's turn) bcos the 2015 batch before her will be using new format.

Read this article in CNA...something about 'Ask Minister'. Yesterday.

Reply to What does 'less pen and paper assessment' at PSLE mean??? on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:27:33 GMT

ngl2010 — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:27:33 GMT

What is it about? :yikes: Where did you read it? Not affecting this year's PSLE, right?