Effectiveness of using reading assessment to enhance the grade 8 students' reading ability

Abstract

本研究目的在於應用促進學習的評估理念，設計一套以評估提升香港中學二年級學生基本和高層次閱讀能力的實驗教學課程，以了解利用評估提升學生閱讀能力的成效。研究利用前測及後測考卷，對比學生在接受實驗教學前後的閱讀能力水平，結果發現利用評估有助提升學生的閱讀能力，特別是「理解篇章深層意義」和「建構個人新知識及看法」的能力。而利用評估提升學習成效，又以低程度閱讀能力的學生得益最大，對於「理解基本／表層文意」、「理解篇章深層意義」和「建構個人新知識及看法」三個能力層次均有顯著提升。研究結果顯示利用評估有助提升學生的閱讀能力，但亦須注意評估與教學內容的配合，特別是結合篇章理解策略教學，才可進一步發揮遷移及持久作用，達到促進學習的效果。

This study investigated the effectiveness of using reading assessment to enhance the Grade 8 students’ basic and higher-order reading ability. A group of 39 grade 8 students were assigned to learn an experimental reading instruction programme which is based on the theories of assessment for learning. Comparing the results of pre-test and post-test, students’ reading ability is found to be improved. The results indicated that students demonstrated significant gains from pre-test to post-test. Moreover, low achievers benefited most from the reading instruction programme. Their three levels of reading ability, including “understanding of basic / surface meaning”, “understanding of implicit meaning” and “construction of personal new knowledge and views”, were found to be improved. This study suggests using assessment for learning can enhance students’ reading ability.