Developing Criteria of an English Textbook Evaluation for Indonesian Senior High School

The use of criteria of an English textbook is crucial to improve the quality of teaching. However, choosing the criteria is a challenging task for teachers and material developers. This recent study aims at developing criteria of an English textbook evaluation for Indonesian Senior High School. This research used Research and Development. Three phases were employed: exploration stage, development stage, and validation stage. At the exploration stage, 17 respondents of English teachers were asked about the need of developing the criteria of the English textbook. All respondents agreed that the textbook evaluation criteria were needed since there is no particular standardized textbook evaluation available. Therefore, they need to use the criteria as the basis to determine the quality of a particular textbook. At the development stage, 10 criteria to evaluate textbooks were constructed. Those cover (1) aims and approaches; (2) design and organization; (3); content; (4) skills; (5) vocabulary; (6) exercises and activities; (7) methodology; (8) attractiveness of the textbook and physical make-up; (9) teacher’s manual; and (10) practical consideration. At the validation stage, the textbook evaluation criteria were deemed valid by experts. Considering these facts, 10 designed criteria could be used as the principle to determine an evaluation of English textbooks, primarily in the teaching English at Indonesian Senior High school.

Effectiveness of the WebQuest Strategy-Based Educational Platform and Learning Environment in Acquiring Biological Concepts and Systemic Thinking in the Biology Course among Pre-Service Teachers

This study aims at uncovering the effectiveness of the WebQuest strategy-based learning environment in the teaching of biological concepts and imparting of systemic thinking. The participants of the study, 64 pre-service teachers (students) for the 2020–2021 academic year, were divided randomly into experimental and control groups. WhatsApp groups were used to communicate with the students. To achieve the study’s objectives, a teacher’s manual for biological concepts was prepared following the WebQuest Model; the WebQuests were created using the Zunal computer programmes. Both biological concepts and systemic thinking assessments were prepared and the study tools were tested for accuracy and reliability. To answer the research questions, data were analysed using ANCOVA and MANCOVA. There were significant differences between the average performances of the two study groups on the scale of the acquisition of biological concepts in favour of the experimental group. Additionally, there were significant differences between the average performances of the groups on a scale of systemic thinking in favour of the experimental group. The results encouraged the educational supervisors to hold training courses and workshops for science teachers, training them in the use of the WebQuest strategy in science teaching and urging its implementation in teaching – through individual instruction and publications. The Ministry of Education must play a role in designing and writing the science curricula and provide a guide for the teachers explaining the ways to employ the WebQuest strategy in the process of teaching science.

Practices of Teachers' in Implementing Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluationan Exploratory Study

The present study reports on the practices adopted by the secondary school teachers of English in implementing the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) scheme of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), India which has to be implemented as part of its national assessment policy. The study is delimited to observing the formative assessment practices adopted by the English teachers in enhancing the four language skills along with using variety of tools and techniques as directed by Central Board of Secondary Education in the Teacher's Manual. This study was conducted on a group of twenty teachers chosen purposively from twenty schools (ten central government and ten private). The major findings reveal that almost all teachers use multiple activities for assessing the listening, speaking and writing skills of the students. Reading still remains a neglected skill in the classroom owing to lack of awareness among teachers to use innovative strategies for enabling them to enhance their reading habit with comprehension. In addition, teachers also make use of multiple criteria to assess the above skills along with assessing sub-skills for the same. It was also found that teachers use multiple forms of record maintenance and assessment for assessing the gifted students in the class. With regard to remediation and enrichment for the students less than 50% of the teachers' prefer not to use multiple strategies for remediation and enrichment.

The Effect of Using Blackboard in the light of Daniel’s Model on Teaching Mathematica Program and Developing Science Processes, Reasoning Ability, and Academic Achievement

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of using blended virtual classrooms in Blackboard in the light of Daniel’s model on teaching Mathematica program and developing the science processes, reasoning ability and academic achievement. The participants comprised 50 female students at Mathematics department, University of Tabuk. The researcher designed the two assessment tools, namely science processes test and reasoning ability test. Then the researcher taught the instructional content by using virtual classrooms blended learning in Blackboard in the light of Daniel’s model, in accordance with the teacher’s manual guide. Then, the researcher applied post-testing on the experimental group. The study results showed the effect of using blended virtual classrooms in Blackboard system in the light of the Daniel’s model in teaching Mathematica. The results also showed statistically significant correlation among science process, reasoning ability among study participants.

DESIGNING LIFE SKILL – BASED ENGLISH READING MATERIALS FOR SECOND GRADE STUDENTS OF SMA NEGERI 1 PRINGGASELA

This research aims to: developing life skill-based English reading materials design for the second grade students of SMA NEGERI 1 PRINGGASELA. The design used in this research is report design by using R&D ( Research and Development ) approach. The subjects of this research are the second grade students of SMA Negeri 1 Pringgasela in academic year 2016/2017. There are 35 students. In collecting data, the researcher uses two steps. First, the researcher distributed questionnaires into the students. Second, the researcher gathers data for conducting evaluation, opinion and suggestion from an English Teacher of SMAN 1 Pringgasela and an expert of designed materials. All responses and comments to the open questions were reviewed and grouped into some meaningful categories as they provide useful information for revising the product. To determine the readability level of the texts used in new developed reading materials, the following are the categories of readability level and reader grade level according to Flesch Readability East Formula and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. Scores between 90.0 and 100.0, considered easily understandable. Scores between 60.0 and 70.0, considered easily understood. Scores between 0.0 and 30.0, considered easily understood. The final product of the materials consists of a course material of Life Skill Based English Material and a teacher’s manual. Whole Language Reading provides rich input of reading strategies, variety of topics, concepts, texts, activities, tasks, and evaluations. Using this material makes reading more holistic and meaningful as it provides integration across language skills and subject areas. Educational institutions need to provide a rich learning environment with a variety of reading sources, print and digital to provide opportunities for students to choose and determine reading materials that suit their needs.

The role of responsive mediation in the development of a novice English teacher’s understanding of the teaching of listening / O papel da mediação responsiva no desenvolvimento do ensino de compreensão oral de uma professora de inglês em início de carreira

when adopting a Vygotskian approach to teacher education, it is believed that social interaction between an experienced teacher and a novice one has the potential to propel teacher development as the former provides mediation that is responsive to the latter’s current needs. With this in mind, the present study is aimed at investigating how a novice English as a foreign language teacher develops her understanding regarding the teaching of listening as she is mediated by a more experienced other who uses the teacher’s manual suggestions as a starting point to inquire into her practice. To do so, the study counted on nine classroom observations which were followed by interviews in which a more experienced peer mediated the teacher towards a better understanding of her teaching, using the teacher’s manual to elucidate the pedagogical concepts behind the textbook activities. Results indicate that responsive mediation provided to the teacher led her to revisit her practice, imbue it with meaning, and consequently (re)conceptualize it as the teacher’s professional activity seemed to have become closer to a communicative one – in consonance to the teacher’s manual suggestions – both her actions and justifications reverberating the moments of interaction with the more experienced teacher. In short, the study illustrates how interaction with a more experienced peer may potentially allow teachers to (re)conceptualize their teaching and, consequently, develop in the profession.Keywords: social interaction; responsive mediation; teacher development; teaching listening.Resumo: uma abordagem Vigotskiana à formação de professores concebe a interação social entre um par experiente e um professor em início de carreira como um elemento que pode potencializar o desenvolvimento deste profissional, o caráter responsivo da mediação às necessidades do professor sendo um elemento chave no processo. Dito isso, o presente estudo visa investigar como uma professora de inglês como língua estrangeira em início de carreira desenvolve seu entendimento em relação ao ensino de compreensão oral ao ser mediada por um professor mais experiente que parte das sugestões do manual do professor para mediá-la. A professora teve nove de suas aulas observadas, seguidas de entrevistas nas quais um professor mais experiente a mediou – ao usar o manual do professor para elucidar os conceitos pedagógicos que regem as atividades do livro-texto – a caminho de um melhor entendimento de sua atividade profissional. Os resultados indicam que a mediação responsiva levou a professora a revisitar sua prática, atribuir significado a ela e, consequentemente, (re)conceituá-la ao passo que as aulas pareceram aproximar-se de uma abordagem comunicativa ao ensino de línguas – indo ao encontro das sugestões do manual – sendo que suas ações e justificativas reverberaram os momentos de interação com o professor mais experiente. Por fim, o estudo ilustra como a interação com um par mais experiente tem o potencial de levar professores a (re)conceituar sua prática, consequentemente impulsionando seu desenvolvimento profissional. Palavras-chave: interação social; mediação responsiva; desenvolvimento docente; ensino de compreensão oral.

PROBLEM BASED AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT MODEL IN INDONESIAN LEARNING: STUDY IN GENERAL HIGH SCHOOL PADANG LAWAS UTARA, INDONESIA

Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study is to describe the results of the development of authentic problem-based assessment models in learning Indonesian in high school. This development uses the Plomp model which has stages, preliminary research, prototyping, and evaluation. The product developed is a problem-based authentic assessment model book and a teacher's manual. Both books were tested for validity, practicality, and effectiveness well. Methodology: The development of this research follows the preliminary, prototype and evaluation research stages. The three steps are carried out selectively. The validity of the model is obtained from an expert judgment of the problem based authentic assessment model book and the problem based authentic assessment handbook. The trial was conducted in class XI of high school to see the practicality and effectiveness of the model book and the guidebook. Main Findings: The development of this authentic problem-based assessment model has produced model books and manuals for Indonesian language teachers in high schools. The results of this study indicate that (1) the problem-based authentic assessment model is very valid, (2) the problem-based authentic assessment model is very practical, and (3) the problem-based authentic assessment model is very effective in learning Indonesian. Applications of this study: Teachers can more easily assess the process and learning outcomes in learning Indonesian. The problem-based authentic assessment model can be used in language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). The teacher can develop appropriate assessment instruments used to assess students' knowledge, attitudes, and psychomotor. The grades obtained are not only numerical but in the form of student work. Novelty/Originality of this study: This authentic problem-based assessment model presents problems in the form of text or questions to be answered by students. Assessment instruments are presented to teachers to assess students' attitudes, cognitive, and psychomotor. The teacher can judge according to the student's ability to answer the questions given. Furthermore, to assess student and psychomotor attitudes, teachers can use portfolio and project instruments.

The impact of realistic evaluation strategy in the development of some habits of the productive mind: فاعلية استراتيجية التقويم الواقعي في تنمية بعض عادات العقل المنتجة

The aim of the research was to identify the effectiveness of the realistic evaluation strategy in the development of some of the habits of the productive mind. The sample consisted of 27 students and 33 students. To achieve the goal of the research, the researcher prepared a list of mental habits produced and presented to the experts, Sound and light where the teacher's manual was prepared to teach the unit according to the realistic evaluation strategy, the preparation of the student's book, and the measure of the habits of the produced mind was prepared. The research groups were selected according to the actual evaluation of the experimental group, the control group in the traditional way, and then the application of the research tools. The results of the study showed that there were differences Were statistically significant between the average scores of the experimental group and the scores of the students of the control group in the post- application in the measure of the habits of the mind in favor of the experimental group.