Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment

A mathematics investigation task requires learners to explore and analyse a specific mathematical concept, fostering independent knowledge discovery and self-directed learning skills. This paper presents a study examining teachers' ability to integrate investigation tasks as a summative assessm...

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Main Authors: Rosina Nkadi Ngoako, Joseph Jabulane Dhlamini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Islamic University in Uganda 2025-05-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Journal of Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.iuiu.ac.ug/index.php/ije/article/view/694
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author Rosina Nkadi Ngoako
Joseph Jabulane Dhlamini
author_facet Rosina Nkadi Ngoako
Joseph Jabulane Dhlamini
author_sort Rosina Nkadi Ngoako
collection DOAJ
description A mathematics investigation task requires learners to explore and analyse a specific mathematical concept, fostering independent knowledge discovery and self-directed learning skills. This paper presents a study examining teachers' ability to integrate investigation tasks as a summative assessment method in South African Grade 4 mathematics classrooms. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study profiled teachers' knowledge and skills in implementing effective investigation-based assessment procedures. A pre- and post-intervention design was used to compare teachers' understanding of conducting investigations as part of summative assessments. A purposive sample of 16 Grade 4 mathematics teachers completed an open-ended questionnaire before and after the intervention program to document their knowledge of mathematics assessment. The findings indicated that, before the intervention, teachers demonstrated limited understanding of how to effectively implement assessment procedures aligned with investigation tasks while incorporating summative assessment elements. However, after the intervention, their ability to enact effective assessment strategies within investigation tasks showed noticeable improvement. The study highlights the need for enhanced teacher capacity-building initiatives to strengthen educators' knowledge and confidence, enabling them to effectively integrate state-approved curriculum concepts and establish a more comprehensive and effective assessment approach in Grade 4 mathematics classrooms.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2616-9088
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series Interdisciplinary Journal of Education
spelling doaj-art-94658a41f3754101a6db27e4fa39222f2025-08-20T03:29:40ZengIslamic University in UgandaInterdisciplinary Journal of Education2616-90882616-90962025-05-0181577410.53449/rt1t4g34Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative AssessmentRosina Nkadi Ngoako0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3063-6643Joseph Jabulane Dhlamini1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2608-8816University of South Africa, Department of Mathematics EducationUniversity of South Africa, Department of Mathematics EducationA mathematics investigation task requires learners to explore and analyse a specific mathematical concept, fostering independent knowledge discovery and self-directed learning skills. This paper presents a study examining teachers' ability to integrate investigation tasks as a summative assessment method in South African Grade 4 mathematics classrooms. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study profiled teachers' knowledge and skills in implementing effective investigation-based assessment procedures. A pre- and post-intervention design was used to compare teachers' understanding of conducting investigations as part of summative assessments. A purposive sample of 16 Grade 4 mathematics teachers completed an open-ended questionnaire before and after the intervention program to document their knowledge of mathematics assessment. The findings indicated that, before the intervention, teachers demonstrated limited understanding of how to effectively implement assessment procedures aligned with investigation tasks while incorporating summative assessment elements. However, after the intervention, their ability to enact effective assessment strategies within investigation tasks showed noticeable improvement. The study highlights the need for enhanced teacher capacity-building initiatives to strengthen educators' knowledge and confidence, enabling them to effectively integrate state-approved curriculum concepts and establish a more comprehensive and effective assessment approach in Grade 4 mathematics classrooms.https://journals.iuiu.ac.ug/index.php/ije/article/view/694investigative approachknowledgemathematical investigationssummative assessmentteaching and learning
spellingShingle Rosina Nkadi Ngoako
Joseph Jabulane Dhlamini
Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment
Interdisciplinary Journal of Education
investigative approach
knowledge
mathematical investigations
summative assessment
teaching and learning
title Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment
title_full Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment
title_fullStr Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment
title_short Grade 4 Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of Including Investigations as Part of Summative Assessment
title_sort grade 4 mathematics teachers understanding of including investigations as part of summative assessment
topic investigative approach
knowledge
mathematical investigations
summative assessment
teaching and learning
url https://journals.iuiu.ac.ug/index.php/ije/article/view/694
work_keys_str_mv AT rosinankadingoako grade4mathematicsteachersunderstandingofincludinginvestigationsaspartofsummativeassessment
AT josephjabulanedhlamini grade4mathematicsteachersunderstandingofincludinginvestigationsaspartofsummativeassessment