Web-based dynamic assessment: Taking assessment as teaching and learning strategy for improving students' e-Learning effectiveness

0360-1315/$ see front matter 2009 Elsevier Ltd. A doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2009.11.001 E-mail address: [email protected] This research combines the idea of cake format dynamic assessment defined by Sternberg and Grigorenko (2001) and the ‘graduated prompt approach’ proposed by Campione and Brown (1985, 1987) to develop a multiple-choice Web-based dynamic assessment system. This research adopts a quasi-experimental design to investigate the effectiveness of this Web-based dynamic assessment system (GPAM-WATA) and normal Web-based test (N-WBT). One hundred and sixteen sixth grade elementary students from four classes participated in this research. These four classes were randomly divided into the GPAM-WATA group and N-WBT group. Before e-Learning instruction, all the students took the prior knowledge assessment and the pre-test of the summative assessment. After 2-week e-Learning instruction, all the students took the post-test of the summative assessment. The research findings show that students in the GPAMWATA group experience better e-Learning effectiveness than those in the N-WBT group. GPAM-WATA is also found to be effective in improving the e-Learning effectiveness of students with low-level prior knowledge. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.