Revision of e-asTTle writing
NZCER has been contracted by the Ministry of Education to develop new writing tasks for e-asTTle writing. NZCER is working with the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on this project. It will also work with Learning Media, Evaluation Associates and Fronde Systems Limited.
The writing tasks will be for Years 1-10. Some existing items are being rewritten, while others are completely new. The items are currently being trialled in schools. The tasks will be available for use by teachers soon after the start of the 2012 school year.
Statement about the project for schools
NZCER is pleased to be working on the revision of e-asTTle writing on contract to the Ministry of Education. We are committed to providing robust assessment tools for the sector and there is a strong demand from schools for an improved writing assessment tool.
Recently a blogger has posted a series of incorrect statements about the e-asTTle revision and NZCER's attitude to the project. The blog says the revision is a preparation for national testing and questions whether schools should be involved in trialling. It claims “everyone” in NZCER is aware the project is about national testing and is unhappy about it.
Contrary to the claim, nobody within NZCER or within the project team is unhappy with the project. There has never directly or by implication been any suggestion - during contract negotiations, in the wording of the contract or at any stage - that the purpose of this revision is national testing. The writer of the blog would know this if he had bothered to talk to anyone within NZCER. He has not.
The revision is about constructing a robust writing assessment tool for use in schools with students in Years 1-10. It is a difficult project with tight timeframes and it would not be possible to do this work without being fully committed to it. Such a project also relies on schools being willing to be involved in trialling and we are very grateful to the 172 schools involved.
NZCER is a national research organisation which has worked with hundreds of schools, teachers and other educational professionals over many years. We have experienced and dedicated staff who are committed to providing better tools and resources for schools. It is extremely disappointing to have our work misconstrued in this way.
NZCER bids for work that aligns with our areas of expertise and that we believe will inform and support the work of teachers, and support learners. We bid for the e-asTTle revision because we knew there was a need in the sector and because we were confident we could provide a robust and useful tool. Tools such as these give greater control to schools and teachers as they enable them to assess the achievement of their students, measure their progress and to come up with targeted strategies to assist with next learning steps.
6 October 2011