Raising competencies with written literacy
Two Canberra educationalists and literacy exponents, Ms Elizabeth Grant and Dr Fiona Mueller, have written an interesting analysis of outcomes arising from publishing NAPLAN test scores for literacy compared with the practical need to develop competencies – among those taught and those teaching – to determine written English standards.
Writing on the online blog, On Line Opinion, the authors make the following salutary comments:
‘Specifically, how will teachers and schools use the NAPLAN process to enhance their day-to-day pedagogy, particularly in relation to improving students’ written English?’
They further comment: ‘Our work with school leavers and professionals who are native speakers of English reveals that most are intuitively confident of their ability to use the spoken language correctly, but frequently doubt their competence in written English.’
The author’s raise pertinent questions concerning both the instrument design and content of the NAPLAN test program as well as raising issues concerning teaching practices to improve written English for each respective test year cohort.
Such questions will no doubt be examined and assessed by ACARA in its deliberations regarding the national English curriculum being determined during 2010.
The full On Line Opinion article – A fair go for Australian students, 18 February 2010 – can be read on: www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10068
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