A written test for procedural understanding: a way forward for assessment in the UK science curriculum?
Abstract
A recent UK House of Commons report on Science 14-19 identified problems with coursework and argued for a greater emphasis on teaching and assessment of scientific literacy. This paper describes a written test for procedural understanding, given to 15 year olds, that addresses both of these issues. Comparisons are made between the scores on a written test of procedural understanding with both assessments made of subject knowledge and pupil accounts of investigations. The potential advantages of assessing procedural understanding by written tests are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Research in Science and Technological Education
- Pub Date:
- January 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1080/0263514042000187511
- Bibcode:
- 2004RSTEd..22....5R