BIÑAN CITY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – WEST CAMPUS

Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction

Assessment tools encompass techniques used to measure a student’s academic abilities,

fluency, and skills within specific subjects, or to gauge progress toward academic proficiency in

designated areas. They also refer to learning methods educators utilize to make informed

decisions about strategies aimed at enhancing student learning, thereby determining if learning

interventions are necessary to ensure student success (Top Hat, 2020).

These tools serve to support active learning, facilitate team-building activities, and foster

peer-to-peer learning. Additionally, they offer alternative assessment methods and can provide

real-time insights into student learning progress (Assessment Tools | Center for Teaching

Innovation, n.d.).

Furthermore, assessment tools can manifest in various forms, including tests,

questionnaires, surveys, interviews, observations, or performance tasks. They find common

application across education, psychology, healthcare, and numerous other fields to assess

learning, diagnose conditions, make decisions, and track progress.

Educational assessment tools specifically evaluate students’ performance and their level

of knowledge in particular subjects. They can be deployed during the learning process or on an

ongoing basis. For instance, formative assessment involves employing different methods to track

a student’s performance as learning progresses, enabling instructors to identify and address

knowledge gaps as students transition between learning phases. Conversely, in summative

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assessment, teachers wait until the end to measure students’ performance using a rubric of

expected learning outcomes.

Moreover, the assessment and grading of student work play a crucial role in evaluating

learning outcomes and providing feedback to students. However, the traditional method of

manually grading paper-based assessments can prove time-consuming and labor-intensive for

educators but it is free from camera errors. With technological advancements, innovative tools

such as ZipGrade have emerged to address these challenges and streamline the grading

process. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of using ZipGrade as a grading tool

in educational settings.

ZipGrade, a mobile application utilizing a device’s camera to scan and grade multiple-

choice answer sheets, offers significant time-saving benefits for teachers and researchers. It

simplifies the process of marking and collecting data, allowing for quick completion of tests for

entire classes within seconds, with scores automatically saved and synced. Students can even

receive their scores before leaving the classroom. ZipGrade proves to be a fantastic, time-saving

tool for those needing to collect and process multiple-choice data (Paton, 2018).

The findings of this research will contribute to the existing body of knowledge on

educational technology and assessment practices, offering insights into the potential benefits and

limitations of using ZipGrade as a grading tool. The results will inform educators, administrators,

and policymakers about the effectiveness of incorporating ZipGrade into educational practices,

facilitating evidence-based decision-making, and enhancing the overall learning experience.

In summary, this research aims to examine the effectiveness of ZipGrade as a tool for

streamlining the grading process in education. Through investigating its impact on various

stakeholders and exploring its benefits and challenges, this study seeks to contribute to the

ongoing discourse on innovative assessment practices and educational technology integration..

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Conceptual Framework

Figure 1 shows the paradigm of the study. It consists of two boxes, namely 1) the

independent variable box which contains using ZipGrade as an effective assessment tool, and 2)

the dependent variable box which contains Grade 9 student at School A who are using ZipGrade.

The schematic diagram of the study also shows the flow of the relationship between the

independent and the dependent variables. This means that the Grade 9 student at school is

affected by using ZipGrade.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

The effects of using ZipGrade

for students as an assessment
tool
Performance of grade 9
• Positive students who use
• Time Saver
ZipGrade as an
• Portable assessment tool

• Negative (How positive)

• Camera Error

Figure 1. The Research Paradigm

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Statement of the Problem

This study will determine the effectiveness of using ZipGrade as an effective assessment

tool for Grade 9 students at school A.

It aims to answer the following questions:

1. How effective the ZipGrade is for Grade 9 students?

2. What is the average time saved by students when using ZipGrade compared to traditional

manual answer sheet?

3. What is the level of satisfaction in the learning process when ZipGrade is used as an

assessment tool?

Research Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis: Using ZipGrade is not effective as an assessment tool for Grade 9 students at

school A.

Alternative Hypothesis: Using ZipGrade is effective as an assessment tool for Grade 9 students

at school A.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

This study will explore the experiences of Grade 9 students at School A regarding the

effectiveness of ZipGrade as an assessment tool. ZipGrade helps students simplify tests by

shading circles for each choice using a pen, pencil, or marker. As an assessment tool, it aids

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Grade 9 students in easily and effectively assessing and evaluating their outputs and

examinations. The respondents for this study are students who use ZipGrade test paper. The

focus will be on Grade 9 students at School A who have experienced the effectiveness of using

ZipGrade paper during the school year 2023-2024.

Significance of the Study

This study will determine the effectiveness of using ZipGrade as an effective assessment

tool for grade 9 student at school A. envisioned to be very useful and effective. This study is a

great significant to the following:

The Administrators. This study will help them to make informed decisions about

curriculum adjustments, instructional support, and resource allocation based on the specific

needs and learning outcomes of students.

The Teachers. This study will help them to assess the reliability and validity of ZipGrade-

generated scores and make informed decisions about its integration into their assessment

strategies.

The Students. This study will benefit the students for them to address any misconceptions

promptly and take corrective action to improve their learning outcomes.

The Parents. This study will guide the parents gain a clearer understanding of their child’s

academic performance and progress in class. Through regular assessments using ZipGrade,

parents can track their child’s performance over time, identify any areas of concern, and provide

targeted support and encouragement to help their child succeed academically.

The Future Researchers. This study will serve as reference for the future researchers

whose field of interests are within the context of this study.

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Definition of Terms

Finally, here are definition of term about The effectiveness of using Zip Grade as an

effective assessment tool Grade 9 student at school A used in this study.

Assessment Tool. An assessment tool is a mechanism used to evaluate or measure

the knowledge, skills, abilities, or performance of individuals or groups. Also, an assessment

tool could be a written test, rubric, observation checklist, or digital platform like Zipgrade,

employed to gather data and provide insights into the proficiency or competency levels of the

assessed subjects.

Effectiveness. It refers to the degree to which something achieves its intended

objectives or produces desired outcomes. It can be measured through various metrics such as

performance indicators, outcome assessments, or feedback from stakeholders to evaluate the

extent to which goals are met and desired results are obtained.

ZipGrade. It is a digital tool designed for grading multiple-choice assessments

efficiently. It also functions as a mobile application that scans and grades answer sheets using

the device’s camera, providing instant feedback and analysis of results.

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