A visual analysis of relationships between GSAT Grade 7 & 9 Diagnostic and CSEC performance in secondary schools in Jamaica 2008-2011 JTA Education Conference 2012 Robert Philips, Education Specialist e-Learning Jamaica Company April 2012 www.e-ljam.net
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A visual analysis of relationships between
GSAT Grade 7 & 9 Diagnostic and CSEC
performance in secondary schools in Jamaica 2008-2011JTA Education Conference 2012
Robert Philips, Education Specialist
e-Learning Jamaica CompanyApril 2012
www.e-ljam.net
Background
• The e-Learning Jamaica Project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Science Technology Energy and Mining and the Ministry of Education to systematically strengthen inputs to instruction in high schools.
• Information and communications technologies and instructor capabilities are being enhanced, with a view to increasing success of students at the CSEC level
Glossary
• GSAT-- the national terminal examination for the primary curriculum serving as the placement tool for secondary school
• PSLE—the equivalent exam in Singapore
• Communication task—the two part writing component of the GSAT examination
• CXC—Caribbean Examinations Council—regional authority for school examinations
• CSEC—CXC exams typically done at the end of 11th grade providing a basis for college matriculation
• GNDT—Grade 9 diagnostic test—an examination designed by CXC to provide planning and intervention information to schools and individual students, adopted by the MOE for national implementation
• All-Age Schools—schools with some secondary grades in addition to full primary
• Primary and Junior High—another type of school with secondary grades in addition to full primary
Project Components
• Infrastructure• Materials• Assessment• Remediation• Training
• Adopted by e-Ljam ,with some reservations as a meaningful index
• Simply – school score is 100 if every student in cohort scores a Grade 1
• Grade 1 is valued at 4
• Grade 2 is valued at 2
• Grade 3 is valued at 1
Tracking variables for six select schools
tracking variables for selected schools
01020304050607080
o1 o2 b1 h1 s1 t1
school
perce
nt or
inde
x for
gsat
or gn
ine or
csec
mgs2008
egs2008
math_9_2011
eng_9_2011
e10
m10
avg_gsat
av_g9
• GSAT• GNINE• CSEC english• CSEC math
Visual analysis—grade 7--2011
schools by comm task score
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99
school
gs
at
gs
ev
en
cx
c in
de
x
mgs2010
egs2010
scigs2010
socgs2010
math_7_2011
eng_7_2011
sci_7_2011
soc_7_2011
eng-jt_2007
math-jt_2007
e09
m09
e10
m10
Visual analysis Grade 7--2011
• CSEC indices m 10—math 2010 e 10---- english 2010• GSAT mgs 2010 egs 2010• Grade 7 –math_7_2011 eng_7_2011
Visual analysis
• Partially cross-sectional 2010 GSAT vs CSEC
• partially longitudinal 2010—2011 GSAT vs G7
• Intake GSAT scores trend similarly to CSEC indices
• Floor CSEC results for more than half the schools
• GSAT placement reinforces a culture of failure in the majority
Conclusions
• GSAT intake means are a measure of the perception of schools
• GSAT means forecast Grade 7 Grade 9 and CSEC performance with the robustness of physical science measures
• Maths and English gap is evident from grade 7
• Geometry and algebra weaknesses are evident
Contrary to the view that GSAT is too hard, there are not enough moderate to high performance students to share among the 170+ schools
• Students scoring less than 80 could be placed on geography and some of those above could receive advanced placement and seek to complete high school in four years
• The GSAT communication task should be reviewed for retention as independent writing is encouraged
• The communication task discriminates and is associated with varying levels of terminal secondary performance
• Data is available to inform policy and strategy choices
• An education system that does not acknowledge the foundations of literacy will have low levels of success
Lessons learned
• Jamaican teachers are eager to incorporate technology into their professional practice, including assessment
• The consistent placement of weaker students in the same schools reinforces the culture of failure
• Assessment at ninth grade indicates that even at current levels of primary school output quality, higher levels of success in CSEC Math and English are achievable
Sustainability
• The Ministry of Education has contracted a supplier for the strategic overhaul of the lower secondary curriculum and related assessment processes
• E-Learning Jamaica has been requested to liaise with the supplier