Paulin, Thomas Eric C.

EDUC119: Assessment of Student Learning II

Second Semester, S.Y. 2012-2013 ENG3A

BOOK REVIEW Title: MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION IN EDUCATION Author: Dr. Raghu Raj Singh Copyright date: 2006 Publisher: Shree Publishers & Distributors

The Author's Purpose of Writing: Evaluation and measurement are being done in so many ways and in so many fields. In fact, it is being done everywhere and every time. In this book, however, the focus of the author is to emphasize the value and usages of measurement and evaluation specifically in education. Assessment, measurement and evaluation plays an important role in the educational process. Aside from determining the students' status in the teaching-learning process, they also give the teachers the necessary information they need in order to know whether their instructional process is successful or not. The teacher will know the strengths and weaknesses of the teaching strategies that he is using in the classroom. Thus, these processes help improve teacher instruction. It is, therefore a vital step in education. Teachers should always take into consideration that the processes involved in assessment is not just a simple task just to comply with the requirements. It is thus the aim of the author to inform his readers the proper and valid ways and processes of conducting classroom assessment, evaluation and measurement. Aside from defining terminologies revolving around the field of assessment, the book also intends that after reading its contents, readers will be able to construct good tests and measure as well as evaluate them accordingly. Theme: The theme of the books focuses on the proper test construction and validly interpreting and evaluating test scores after assessment. This book is a formal giver of information and it teaches us the various ways of test construction grounded by principles and learning theories. Assessment, measurement and evaluation play an important role in the educational process. Aside from determining the students' status in the teaching-learning process, they also give the teachers the necessary information they need in order to know whether their instructional process is successful or not. The teacher will know the strengths and weaknesses of the

teaching strategies that he is using in the classroom. Thus, these processes help improve teacher instruction. It is, therefore a vital step in education. Teachers should always take into consideration that the processes involved in assessment is not just a simple task just to comply with the requirements. It is thus the aim of the author to inform his readers the proper and valid ways and processes of conducting classroom assessment, evaluation and measurement. Aside from defining terminologies revolving around the field of assessment, the book also intends that after reading its contents, readers will be able to construct good tests and measure as well as evaluate them accordingly. Summary: The Role of Measurement and Evaluation in Teaching

This chapter indicates the essence of measurement and evaluation in classroom teaching and how they help the teachers in decision making, be it in an informal or formal way. There are various techniques in the measurement of the achievement of the pupil, but this chapter tells us that evaluation is a continuous process that teachers should dwell adeptly in order to improve teaching strategies. Measurement and evaluation also help the learners determine their own strengths and weaknesses in the teachinglearning process as test scores provide a quantitative value of their performances. Validity

We read in the first chapter how measurement and evaluation help both the teachers and the pupils in decision making as well as in the improvement of instructional strategies, these things will not be made possible if they are not valid. This chapter, therefore, focuses on how assessment can be made accurate, appropriate, meaningful and useful. Reliability and Other Desired Characteristics

Next to validity, this chapter now tells us that reliability is also a vital element in the success of assessment. It refers to the consistency of test scores or other evaluation results in a given period of time. It is not focused merely on the instrument used in assessment but rather it focuses on how reliable results are in concern of the students. Planning The Classroom Test

We are often confused with the difference between assessment and tests. Test is just a kind of assessment. It is a way of collecting information and provides relevant measures of many important learning outcomes. Like what we have mentioned in the previous chapter, validity is essential. Therefore in order for a test to be valid and reliable as well, it should be carefully planned. Constructing Objective Test Items: Simple Forms

This chapter tells all about a particular type of classroom tests which is the simple form. It exhibits short answers. Constructing Objective Test Items: Multiple-Choice Forms

This chapter focuses on multiple-choice forms of classroom testing. It gives detailed information on its characteristics, types, examples and construction. Measuring Complex Achievement: The Essay Test

After the simple forms of test construction, the book now proceeds to the construction of tests which will inhibit a higher order of thinking skills from the pupils. The essay test is a type of test which is subjective, meaning the students are given the freedom to answer using their own opinions, as long as their answers is still based on the principles of the subject matter and as long as they can defend their answers well. Achievement Tests

This chapter focuses on achievement tests or what we often call standardized test which is being used in most schools both in elementary in secondary. Aptitude Test designed to predict future performance in

Aptitude Tests, according to this chapter, are

some activity. Those used in schools range from the traditional scholastic aptitude tests to the more comprehensive differential aptitude tests. These kind of tests are given to students in order to assist them in achieving the maximum of which they are capable of. Interpreting Test Scores and Norms

After testing has been given to the pupils, it is now time for the teacher to interpret the results and test scores. According to this chapter, test results can be interpreted in terms of the types of tasks that can be performed or the relative position held in some references group. The purpose of test interpretation is for us to determine really the value of the pupils performance in reaction to a valid and reliable type of testing. School Testing, Trends and Issues

The book wrap ups with the discussion of the recently talked about trends in the field of educational assessments. The points which were discussed in this last chapter are accountability, minimum-competency testing, mastery learning, mainstreaming, national assessment programs, and other trends.

Review: This book provides a limited course of studying test construction. It is understood since the focus and the theme is more about the role of measurement and evaluation, which proceeds

after the testing process itself. It has been made clear that measurement and evaluation is really part of the assessment process, although it is being done mostly in the latter part, but they still play a very important role, most especially n projecting student performance into quantifiable information.

Recommendation: This book is a good read if your purpose is reading is to know the role of measurement and evaluation in teaching and how it is being incorporated in every classroom assessment. The information are presented clearly and the words used are not hard to understand for young readers.