Primary and Early Years > Interest > Literacy

P19: Using the Classroom Performance System (CPS) for spelling tests
Author: Viv Bailey, Class Teacher, Warren junior School, Barking and Dagenham
Date: 2005

The teacher investigated how using the CPS zappers could contribute to weekly spelling tests. She compared the children's performance on the same spelling tests given seven weeks apart, once completed as a written test, and once using the zappers. She then focused on the results of six children's scores in greater detail, these children being representative of the different levels of ability in her class.

All of these children gained different scores according to the method by which the test was administered - some improved and some got worse. The teacher therefore concluded that using the CPS technology to give spelling tests did not provide her with a true reflection of her pupils' spelling ability. The teacher acknowledged the motivating effect which the zappers had on the children and its efficiency from her point of view, but felt that in this instance using this kind of multiple choice test was inappropriate.

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