Application of the Critical Friends Concept for Evaluation Capacity Building in Test Construction of Elementary School Teachers

Abstract

     The purposes of the research were: 1) to create a learning community of teachers for test construction using the critical friends concept, 2) to study teachers’ test construction capacity, and 3) to study the results of using the critical friends concept and features for creating a learning community. A sample of 18 science teachers participated in this project, and websites were used as the channel to create the learning community. Applying the critical friends concept, a network of teachers participated in test construction. The results showed that the teachers had constructed the tests via websites, by sharing their knowledge regarding test construction while employing the critical friends concept. In addition, the same method was used by teachers within their schools to improve the quality of tests. After the project, teachers had more knowledge, better skills, and more positive attitudes towards test construction. Most critiques of teachers concerned the cognitive domain learning level but most critiques of experts were academic suggestions aimed at improving the test. Teachers used the critical friends concept to develop their teaching skills, improve test creation and teaching methods, and create a learning community. Factors contributing to the creation of the learning community were teachers’ determination to develop their skill and teachers’ colleagues, supervisors/heads of learning groups and schools that supported teachers in sharing knowledge with other teachers.