Purpose:

Although student perspectives are crucial for understanding their experiences of assessments, they have not been investigated to the same extent as other stakeholders’. In particular, the views of low-achieving students are seldom examined. Therefore, this study aimed to enhance knowledge regarding low-achieving students’ assessment experiences. 

Design/Approach/Methods:

A total of 646 peer-reviewed studies were identified through searches in the ERIC, ERC, and Web of Science databases. The PRISMA 2020 statement guided the study. Nine studies were included. A descriptive analysis was conducted, followed by an analysis of the studies found at three grade levels. Prominent factors for understanding low-achieving students’ perspectives were identified using thematic analysis. 

Findings:

There is a gap in research on how low-achieving students experience assessment. Several factors were found: higher levels of anxiety, enhancing the assessment situations, and designing assessments to better support low-achieving students’ in exhibiting their knowledge. Students’ involvement in designing assessments and strategies to cope with stress can enhance their outcomes. 

Originality/Value:

This study conducted a focused literature review of studies on low-achieving students’ perspectives of educational assessments, a topic that has been under-investigated. Understanding low-achieving students’ perspectives of assessments can be used in the design, implementation, and evaluation of assessments.

Kommuners upprättande av lokala bedömningsprogram, där vad som sker i den pedagogiska praktiken ska utvärderas och kontrolleras, kan ses som exempel på hur en utvidgad bedömningskultur på internationell och nationell nivå transformerats till lokal nivå. I denna studie undersöks vilka konsekvenser en utökad bedömningskultur kan få för såväl pedagoger som för elever och undervisningsmiljö. Studiens övergripande syfte är att bidra med kunskap om hur ett lokalt bedömningsuppdrag i grundskolan, baserat på ett externt utformat och normrelaterat läs- och skrivprov kan upplevas och tolkas av berörda pedagoger. Vidare syftar studien till att bidra med kunskap om vilka konsekvenser ett bedömningsuppdrag enligt ovan kan leda till på organisations-, grupp- och individnivå. Studien utgår från det sociokulturella perspektivets grundläggande syn på kunskap och lärande och genomförs med fallstudien som ansats. Källor som används är dokument skrivna till följd av bedömningen samt intervjuer med berörda klasslärare och specialpedagoger. Trots intentionen från central kommunnivå att med bedömningsresultatet som grund planera och implementera åtgärder på organisations-, grupp- och individnivå visar studien att bedömningen primärt resulterar i kategorisering av elever. Eleven sätts i fokus gällande såväl vem som blir bärare av identifierade problem som åtgärder för att kompensera identifierade brister. Bedömningsuppdraget som i grunden ter sig vara enkelt visar på en komplexitet med ett antal dilemman som följd. Pedagogernas tolkningar av bedömningsuppdraget analyseras med hjälp av de grundläggande didaktiska begreppen varför, vem, vad och hur och med begreppen performativitet och löst kopplade system analyseras de ställningstaganden de gör. För analys av bedömningens konsekvenser blir synsätt på och begrepp rörande kunskapsbedömning och specialpedagogik centrala utgångspunkter.

Purpose - This study examined participating teachers' expressions about teaching and learning when implementing lesson study (LS) about communication as a special didactic tool in mathematics; it also investigated their experience with LS. The initializing phase was characterized by letting the teachers become familiar with LS as a model for their professional development (PD). It also provided an opportunity for the participants to acquire common understanding of their starting point. Design/methodology/approach - An adapted version of LS was used as a model for teachers' PD. The methods for data collection were a semi-structured interview and discussions with the teachers. From a teaching team in school year 1, two class teachers participated. The data obtained were qualitative and subjected to a thematic analysis. The teachers participated together in the different discussions during the study. All the discussions were audio-recorded. Findings - During the discussions, the teachers raised some critical points: how to gain students' attention during lesson reviews; how to make follow-ups of the students' understanding of lesson content; how to plan and factors that could have been changed in education that could assist in all students' progress. Originality/value - Both the initializing phase and the concept of special didactics have not received full attention in research. This study highlights the importance of capturing the teachers' attained competence toward understanding what is needed for future competence concerning communication as a special didactic tool in mathematics.