IMPROVING ON PREPARING QUALITY WORKSHEETS FOR SCIENCE LEARNING

IMPROVING ON PREPARING QUALITY

WORKSHEETS FOR SCIENCE LEARNING

Kanageswary Seger and Azizah Ngah Tasir

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research was to improve on preparing of quality worksheets which can enhance pupils to answer it. The respondents consisted of 27 pupils from Year 5 in Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Segar, Kuala Lumpur.  The research methodology includes observation form, interview of science teacher, questionnaire and pupils formative test scores. The finding shows that giving worksheet to evaluate pupils at the end of the lesson provides useful information for teachers as well as pupils. Quality worksheet should focus on two main criterions which are the content and appearances of the worksheet. Good qualities of worksheet help pupils to score well. Thus, new teachers can apply the two main criterions to produce quality worksheets for their pupils.

1. INTRODUCTION

The process of assessment is the mechanism which carries out a judgment. (Teras, 2009). [2] Worksheet is a form of formative assessment. [1] Due to the poor qualities of worksheet that I had prepared in the past might caused the pupils to be demotivated to answer and complete it. So, I had put my effort to identify ways to prepare quality worksheet. In order to prepare quality worksheet, there were two main criterions that been focused. Firstly, the content of the worksheet and secondly, the appearances of the worksheet prepared. [1] Based on the study of my problem, I derived my research question as, “How the qualities of the worksheet are influence pupils to answer it and what are the improvements that I should do on the worksheet to get better result from the pupils?” 

2. METHODOLOGY

Research was conducted approximately for a month. Participants of this research were 27 pupils from year 5 Bestari.  The study was based on a mixed research design whereby it used both quantitative and qualitative data sources. Observation form was given to teacher to evaluate the worksheets. The second instrument being used to obtain the data was in the form of an interview. Three senior science teachers have been interviewed to get ideas to prepare quality worksheets. Questionnaire was given to pupils to get their feedback about the worksheet. Besides that, pupils formative test scores were collected. The data was analysed and presented in the form of table and graphs. A bar graph for questionnaire and a line graph for formative test score were plotted.

3. RESULTS

From the data collected I can state that quality worksheet help pupils to complete it correctly. As I improve the quality of worksheet, the scores of pupils were increased for each worksheet. Overall, criteria which most of the pupils agreed for quality worksheets are:  

Criteria
Content	Appearances
Short and clear questions	Relevant pictures
Simple language	Interesting layout.
Clear and simple instruction	Bolded key words
Suitable font and size

                   Table 1:  Criteria for a quality worksheet.

Therefore, when preparing quality worksheet minimum 5 criteria mentioned above should be consider. 

4. SUMMARY

The achievement of the action was all pupils were able to answer and complete the worksheets given successfully. The quality worksheet resulted in meaningful and productive science learning of the pupils. In view of these finding, I concluded that the usefulness of quality worksheets as an instruments to evaluating pupils and facilitating learning cannot be dismissed. However, the effectiveness and usefulness depends on how the worksheet are designed and prepared. Hence, teachers have to produce good quality worksheets that motivate pupils to answer it properly.  New teachers can apply the two main criterions to produce quality worksheets for their pupils.  In future I would like to continue my research on another tool of formative assessment.

REFERENCES

[1] Graham, B. (1998). Designing Effective Worksheets. Retrieved  on 1^st  March 2010

http://www.bgci.org/education/designing_effective_works/

[2] Teras,M.(2009). Summative Assessment: The Missing Link For Formative Assessment.

Journal Of Further And Higher Education. Vol 33 (1).

Corresponding Author:

Kanageswary Seger, Kanages_05@yahoo.com