July 30 -- The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) hosted a one-day workshop on Wednesday 28 July for Chief Examiners and Assistant Chief Examiners for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
The workshop dealt with assessment and quality issues in the context of the CXC examination model and processes used in CXC examinations.
The objectives of the workshop included, among other things, updating Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs on the major features of the CXC examination model with an emphasis on robustness, the criterion-referenced framework, instructional sensitivity and the use of triangulation as a technique for optimizing the reliability and validity of the assessment procedures.
Dr Desmond Broomes, the well-respected Caribbean measurement specialist, led the workshop, which was hosted at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic in Barbados. He was assisted by CXC staff members, Dr Gordon Harewood, Dr Anthony Haynes, Benita Byer, Nordia Weekes and Leona Emtage.
Dr Broomes stressed to the participants that CXC uses the criterion-reference framework for assessment because the system is fair and robust. The former University of the West Indies lecturer also lauded the diversity of assessment tools used by CXC to measure the abilities of learners in the Caribbean. These, he said, include multiple choice items, short answer questions, extended essay questions and school-based assessment. This approach, he asserted, makes CXC’s assessment rigorous, reliable and valid.
Dr Gordon Harewood, Senior Assistant Registrar of the Examination Development and Production Division presented a session on three dominant theories of learning- Behaviourist, Cognitivist and Constructivist- and explored the usefulness of these theories for analysing the cognitive demands of examination questions set by CXC.
The Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs also explored techniques for enhancing the reporting of examination statistics and making them more user-friendly in a session conducted by Benita Byer, Measurement Officer. They were also given useful tips on constructing essay questions for examinations by Leona Emtage, Measurement Officer. Mrs Emtage took the participants through the characteristics of good essay questions, as well as the advantages and limitations of essay questions.
The workshop was the first of its kind hosted by CXC for Chief Examiners and Dr Didacus Jules, Registrar of CXC, said the Council will host similar workshops next year for the Chief and Assistant Chief Examiners for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). This year’s workshop was held during the CAPE grading exercise.
For additional information, please contact Cleveland Sam, Assistant Registrar-Public Information and Customer Services at (246) 227-1892 or via email at CSam@cxc.org.
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