Classroom Assessment System for Teaching and Learning (CASTLe)
Awards
:
Gold Medal
33rd International Exhibitions of Inventions, New Techniques and Products, Geneva 2005
Silver Medal
Expo on Research and Innovation 2004 University of Malaya
Bronze Medal
Expo on Science, Technology & Innovation 2004 Malaysia
Funding
:
This research was funded by Malaysian Examination Syndicate
Abstract:
As Malaysia prepares to join the developed world in the new millennium, Malaysians must be able to face the challenges of
this changing, progressive, and globalised world. Education in Malaysia therefore has to incorporate the latest trends to
meet these needs. Novel methods of measurement are crucial to ensure continued development of quality education. Traditional
assessments focusing on paper and pencil tests have very much ignored learners’ ability to inquire, interact and achieve scientific
understanding. Therefore, a flexible and individualised school-based assessment is essential.
In 2004, University of Malaya together with Malaysia Examination Syndicate had designed a new assessment system for teaching
and learning. The Classroom Assessment System for Teaching and Learning (CASTLe) was finally born!
Since then, CASTLe had been tested throughout Malaysia on 120 secondary schools, 700 secondary school teachers, and 240,000
Lower Secondary One and Two students. It has been tested on four core subjects: English Language, Malay Language, Mathematics
and Science.
CASTLe is a new school-based assessment system on CD that provides accurate, holistic and on-going feedback of students’
cognitive, affective and psychomotor development. This flexible and personalised system ensures quality teaching and learning,
generates reports and provides ample information to parents regarding their children’s learning process.
CASTLe allows students to progress and improve in their work as they are constantly aware of their performance. The evaluation
can be made as frequently as possible so that students can be motivated to perform well in learning. The reports and comments
are printed for parental review which in turn helps the parents to develop strategies to encourage and improve their children’s
learning.
The results of this study show that teachers are more observant and familiar with each student, thus enhancing teacher-student
rapport. They are able to detect the weaknesses and strengths of each student; understand and attend to the students better.
Hence, each student strives to perform better. The teachers too, had improved in instructional method by devising interesting
activities and tasks to elicit active class participation. The results also show significant differences in performance between
experimental and control groups.
In a nutshell, CASTLe has generated great impact to the society. It provides usable and holistic information regarding learner
performance and encourages teacher to vary their teaching approaches. Thus, it ensures quality in education and helps to realise
the aspirations of the National Philosophy of Education. This system thus not only promotes learning but also improves teaching.
