STUDY OF EVALUATION AS AN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT TOOL (TRANSPOSING FIXED SCALE ASSESSMENT INTO RELATIVE SCALE ASSESSMENT)
Abstract
The paper considers the need of introducing a solution to the problem of
lacking efficacy of the evaluation scale in Bulgarian schools, since its malfunction to
differentiate students has far reaching consequences in terms mainly of students’ declining
motivation and educational performances. The proposed solution is in the form of a
Research Tool, which introduces effectiveness in the evaluation results in a particular
educational institution by modifying the assessment scale currently operating in the
Bulgarian education.
The main hypothesis about the weakness of the differentiating function of the
existing assessment scale in Bulgaria is that it is not inherently designed to differentiate
due to scale’s intrinsic feature to assess (students) individually and absolutely. Paper
presents research results confirming the hypothesis analyzing all students’ grades on all
subjects during the full four-year period of their study in a particular secondary school.
Then two new assessment tools are developed in order to enhance differentiation between
students – a so-called ‘elastic’ scale and a relative scale (the Tool) based on the
percentage of the positive differences between the student’s grades and the average
results of the entire cohort. The main conclusion from the analysis is that the newly
elaborated relative evaluation scale (the Tool using positive differences) is much more
differentiating than the absolute scale. The high correlation coefficients between the ‘old’
and the ‘new’ scale indicate that the new relative scale using juxtaposition between
students measures and evaluates the same students’ educational achievements, but in
disparate, highly differentiating, way. Therefore, the Tool can be a powerful tool in the
hands of the Bulgarian schools’ managerial teams (and of Rectors’ and the Deans’ teams
in universities) in case the end result is to increase the motivation of the very good and
excellent students and to stimulate the less successful ones.
References
Haralampiev, K. 2004. Problems in Evaluation of Students in the Department of Sociology
at ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ University of Sofia. In: University of Sofia Yearbook of Sociology.
vol. 95 (in Bulgarian)
Nikolova, G. 2011. Analysis of the Educational Process through the Study of
Evaluation (Based on an Example of a Sofia High School). In: Strategies for Policy in
Science and Education, vol. 4 (in Bulgarian)
Mansell, W. 2007. Education by Numbers. The Tyranny of Testing. Politicos
Publishing.
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