NAPLAN test violated to penalize creativity and encourage formulaic writing

NAPLAN data shows that Australian students’ writing skills have declined over the past decade. There was no improvement in writing ability for grade 3 and her grade 5 students, and no decrease in writing ability for grade 7 and her grade 9 students.

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In a major NAPLAN review commissioned by three states (including Victoria) and completed in 2020, the test “does not support students in producing good writing” and was highly rated by teachers. and found that it was “adversely impacting the way writing is taught in America.” classroom”.

“Students were often told to create formulaic sentences for NAPLAN,” the study concluded. Through our consultations, we often heard the opinion that this had a negative impact on opportunities to express one’s imagination.”

David de Carvalho, Chief Executive of Australia’s Curriculum and Assessment Institute, said the agency was looking and researching ways to improve NAPLAN writing assessment.

“Significant changes to the national assessment programme, including NAPLAN, have recently been agreed by Ministers. I have,” he said.

According to the authorities, the NAPLAN Writing Test focuses on writing stories and persuasive sentences in standard Australian English with accuracy, fluency and purpose. Evaluate student performance against a variety of criteria including vocabulary, ideas, personality, and settings.

A Sunshine Coast University study found that NAPLAN’s impact on writing instruction “embraced the development of imagination” in students.

“Some teachers, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge about how to teach creative writing, explicitly resorted to exam prep instruction with the help of publishers and tutoring services to prepare students for NAPLAN. are,” the report notes.

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“As a result, current approaches to story writing in Australian schools are narrow, reductive and do not help students use their imaginations to become innovative creative writers.”

This research Australian Journal of Language and LiteracyThis research was commissioned by Steiner Education Australia.

Dr. Virginia Moller, Chief Executive Officer of Steiner Education Australia, said the study showed that NAPLAN’s teaching and assessment of writing was ‘fit for purpose’.

“This research shows that rich ‘craft-based’ teaching practices enable students to connect with and be moved by their own ideas and stories. This is the approach that underpins deep learning,” Moller said.

“Combine this knowledge with neurological evidence showing that student engagement and learning are suboptimal in stressful environments. Claims against the current NAPLAN-fueled educational structure are gaining momentum.”

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