PRINCIPALS across Ararat and the Wimmers have welcomed the inclusion of emojis, characters used in text message and online chat, in a practice National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy test.
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The Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority posted the mini-tests online to help teachers and students to prepare for the nation-wide exam, but came under fire for its use of emojis and text messages during year nine comprehensive tests.
To ask students to do it in a context that relates to them, they might see more value and be more committed
- Ararat College principal Geoff Sawyer
Ararat College principal Geoff Sawyer said there was a possibility making the test more engaging would help improve student engagement and results.
“It’s an interesting approach,” he said.
“My initial thought is they’re obviously trying to make it relate to young people.
“We need statewide testing to gather data. If we’re going to do that and we’re going to ask students to do it in a context that relates to them, they might see more value and be more committed.”
Mr Sawyer said NAPLAN testing could be controversial in its nature, but he saw no issue with modernising comprehension exercises.
“There are all sorts of arguments around the value of NAPLAN itself,” he said. “It is useful in terms of providing a snapshot of where each individual student sits currently at learning levels.
“But the data needs to be crosschecked with other data before decisions are made on it and that doesn’t always seem to be the case on the state level.”
Mr Sawyer said results should be considered in context.
Horsham’s Holy Trinity Lutheran School principal Daniel Weller said, while unorthodox, if interpreting text messages helped show a student’s comprehension, he supported the decision.
“It’s communication, deciphering communication and comprehension is important,” he said.
“It’s not outside the realm to use it as a way to gauge comprehension and literacy strengths.
“If they find a benefit in the change I have no issue with it.”