Assessing Test Feedback Strategies Adopted By Primary School Teachers In Anambra State

Abstract

In learning new skills, it is necessary that students receive some information (feedback), that tells them if they are on the right track. The strategies, tactics or means through which teachers provide feedback to pupils after assessments are, however, a source of concern. Thus, this study aimed at assessing test feedback strategies/tactics adopted by primary school teachers in Anambra State, Nigeria. This study is a descriptive survey conducted in Anambra State, a south-eastern State in Nigeria. The sample of the study consisted of 500 teachers drawn from 1054 public primary schools in the state. The study tested two hypotheses and answered two research questions. The instrument used for collecting data is a researcher-developed questionnaire, titled “Test Feedback Strategy Assessment Questionnaire” (TFSAQ). Mean, standard deviation and t-test were adopted to analyze the data collected. The study revealed that teachers majorly gave feedbacks in writing or print form which included handwritten comments on students’ assessed work, written numeric scores, grades, averages or positions, etc. They also gave face-to-face feedbacks to whole classes, individual students and small groups of students. Most of the teachers did not use electronic feedbacks. The feedbacks were of fairly good quality. The school location and the level of a class taught had no significant influence on teachers’ responses. As a result of the findings, the researcher recommended among other things that teachers should be given more training especially on electronic feedback strategies as well as ways of improving the qualities of their test feedbacks.