Assessing early number learning: how useful is the Annual National Assessment in Numeracy?
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Date
2013
Authors
Weitz, Maria
Venkat, Hamsa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
Annual National Assessment (ANA) performance in Mathematics across the primary
grades in South Africa indicates a decrease in mean performance across Grades
1–6. In this paper, we explore the apparently high performance in Grade 1 through
a comparative investigation of learner responses on two assessments: the Grade
1 ANA taken in February 2011 by Grade 2 learners and a diagnostic oral interview
test drawn from the work of Wright et al. (2006), administered at the same time.
Our findings point to a predominant pattern of high performance on the ANA and
low performance on Wright et al.’s tests. In-depth analysis of the responses of two
learners in this group indicates that this discrepancy is due to acceptance in the ANA
of correct answers produced through highly rudimentary counting strategies. The
diagnostic test, in contrast, awards lower marks when correct answers are produced
in inefficient ways. We conclude with concerns that acceptance of low-level counting
strategies in the ANA may well work against persuading Grade 1 and 2 teachers to
work towards more sophisticated strategies.
Description
Keywords
ANA, Early number learning, South Africa, Numeracy, Assessment, Annual National Assessment
Citation
Weitz, M., & Venkat, H. (2013). Assessing early number learning: how useful is the Annual National Assessment in Numeracy?. Perspectives in Education: Primary mathematics: addressing the crisis, 31(3), 49-65.