TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA SINCE 1998: A SHIFT FROM TRADITIONAL EVALUATION TO A PROCESS-BASED ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK

ABSTRACT: Changes in the educational approach in South Africa from the traditional to the new outcomes-based education (OBE) approach required educators to make adjustments, especially concerning the shift away from traditional evaluation to using OBE-assessments which made specific demands on educators. However, limited information is available in literature on an assessment framework for technology education, which confirms the need for establishing a well-structured framework to assess learners. The purpose of this paper is to establish a process-based assessment framework to assess learners in technology education in a meaningful and responsible manner. Two research questions were formulated: What are the implications of OBE for assessment in general? What are the aspects of a processed-based assessment framework for technology education? A case study as a form of quantitative action research was undertaken. Three Grade 7 learners and an educator at a parallel medium primary school were involved in the case study. For the purpose of the research project, information obtained from a capability task was used. The research only focused on the initial idea generation stage (stage five) of the technological process, as well as creative and critical thinking (as thinking sub-processes) in a Grade 7 technology education class in South Africa. Observation and semi-structured interviews were used as data-collection methods. The validity and reliability of the study were ensured by means of triangulation. Three main categories (findings) were identified as aspects of a process-based assessment framework: outcomes, content and assessment methodology. Further subcategories were identified within each of these main categories. This framework can assist educators to make a shift from traditional evaluation to OBE assessment. Key words: Technology education; assessment; assessment framework; outcomes; content