TEACHERS
PROS AND CONS OF NAPLAN FOR TEACHERS
PROS:
- Once teachers have received their class and students individual results, they are able to see which students are struggling and are able to assist in their weaknesses.
- Teachers are able to examine where their class has strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum and spend more time learning and focusing on the class weaknesses.
- ‘Help teachers to challenge higher performers and identify students needing support’ (ACARA, 2011c).
NAPLAN Info | |
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(Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2011c)
cons:
- Instead of focusing on the set curriculum, teachers are losing valuable time to teach students the procedures of the tests and practice runs.
- Teachers are put in the position of watching their students stress and on occasions, cry during the examination, and they cannot comfort them due to the strict instructions.
- Teachers have to look after stressed students prior to NAPLAN and comfort them.
- Teachers need to make sure all their students are achieving at the average or above standard to help keep or raise their school standard.
--The reason for this is parents would want to send their children to high achieving schools for their students to be able to achieve high achievements as well. - Teachers are under pressure to keep their students at an average to high level of achievement to prevent being questioned about their teaching from their Principal and the Queensland Teaching Authority.
How should teachers get prepared for Naplan?
- Teachers should only be teaching the set curriculum to prepare their students.
- Teachers should demonstrate how to sit the exam as well as the procedures and expectations.
- Teachers need to talk to parents about how to help their children be prepared, (enough sleep, big breakfast and lunch).
Interview with teachers
Year 5 Teacher
EAL/D Teacher
- "NAPLAN is based on the curriculum so I didn't have the students practise any tests as what they were learning is what the test would have been based upon".
- "We didn't do much preparation towards NAPLAN except teaching students how to colour in the bubbles properly and what was expected for the day".
EAL/D Teacher
- "I find it quite unfair for students who have English as a second language or for Indigenous students. They are already learning these new concepts and the curriculum with being a step behind the other students and then being expected to participate in NAPLAN is just unfair"