English language teachers and experts nationwide gathered recently for the inaugural National Conference on Classroom-Based Assessment (NCCBA) 2023.
The three-day event, from Sept 4 to 6, was jointly organised by the English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) of the Education Ministry, the Resources and Educational Technology Division (BSTP), the Information Management Division (BPM) and the Teacher Professionalism Division (BPG).
Themed "Classroom-Based Assessment: Enriching Teachers with Effective Strategies", the conference featured presentations, workshops, forums and round-table discussions on the best practices and innovations in conducting classroom-based assessment in English language teaching to impact learner outcomes.
Among the notable speakers and panellists at the conference were International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) rector Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, former Examination Syndicate deputy director Dr. Khodory, British Council test development researchers Dr Carolyn Westbrook and Samantha Lewis, Cambridge English's Uyen Pham, Institute of Teacher Education's International Language Campus Kuala Lumpur senior lecturer Dr B.N. Premalatha and Prof Dr Abtar Kaur Darshan Singh from the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation.
ELTC director Farah Mardhy Aman said throughout the conference, attendees had the opportunity to participate in a range of sessions focused on, among other things, designing effective teaching and learning best assessment practices.
"In keeping with the changing environment, English language teaching and learning is also experiencing a dynamic evolvement in its assessment practice.
"The teachers need this kind of platform to better equip themselves with knowledge and skills in conducting classroom-based assessment.
"Therefore, during this conference, they had the chance to network with fellow counterparts and experts that will further strengthen assessment literacy amongst them," she said in an interview after the closing ceremony of the conference.
Also present at the interview were ELTC deputy director Dr Kalminderjit Kaur and Assessment and Evaluation Department head Dr. T. Vanitha.
Farah Mardhy added that the conference also unearthed innovations being used by some of the teachers for English language teaching and learning.
"We must praise the teachers for their creativity to enable students to have the best possible learning experience so they achieve the maximum outcome.
"Some of them are using the technology, while some don't, depending on the situation.
"At a certain point, they also can integrate certain skills for students, according to their respective levels within the same classroom.
"During one of the sessions, a teacher from Sibu, Sarawak shared that she divided half of classroom time for the advanced students and another half to help those who are weak.
"But now, with the best practices that she has come out with, she integrated both. Remarkably she can do it."
Asked about the challenges shared by the teachers attending the conference, Dr. Kalminderjit said one of them was difficulties in doing formative assessments, particularly addressing large groups of students, as well as knowing what kind of formative instruments could be used to profile the students.
"All of these were discussed during the plenaries and workshops, where the presenters' shared techniques, strategies and pedagogies.
"It runs across all the presentations, how to personalise and humanise the assessment."
She added that apart from delivering relevant skills and knowledge, the teachers needed to be equipped with skills to inculcate the "karamah insaniah" values in our education system to produce the "Anak Baik lagi Cerdik" (ABC) generation, which was emphasised during the conference.
Meanwhile, on humanising assessment, Dr. Vanitha said; "We are looking beyond the curriculum. Beyond that is about character building, personalising for their (the students) future.
"When we say humanising, we are looking at values and attitudes, which can be developed through classroom-based assessment.
"Through projects and group work, we can see how they work with each other beyond race, religion and culture.
"We are looking at interconnectedness, which is about global competencies. This was addressed in the keynote.
"To achieve global competencies, we must start from the classroom-based assessment.
"I think what the ministry aspires to do, we support that, going beyond classroom and through formative assessment."
Earlier, Education director-general Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali, in his closing address at the NCCBA, said the conference provided a vibrant platform for the exchange of ideas and insights.
"The journey towards effective classroom-based assessment is not without its challenges, including resource constraints and the need for continuous teacher development.
"Throughout this conference, we have engaged in fruitful discussions, learned from esteemed professionals and shared our own experiences.
"I believe, we have examined the challenges and opportunities presented by classroom-based assessment and its significance in nurturing holistic development through the ABC concept, and its role in creating well-rounded individuals.
"I am confident that the seeds of knowledge sown during this conference will flourish into impactful practices in classrooms across the nation," he said in his speech which was read by Farah Mardhy.
Pkharuddin added that the Education Ministry was committed to ensuring that education was made the foundation of the nation.