Testes em papel versus testes em computador: o meio de realização influencia o desempenho dos alunos?

Abstract

The steady advance of digital technology and its strong presence in school settings point to a new way of using technology in this environment. Traditionally, digital technology is used by teachers and students as a source of researches and, moreover, by the teacher as an alternative methodology that helps in the classroom. This dissertation aims about digital technology as a basic tool in conducting evaluations and performance, especially in the discipline of Mathematics. Thus, its research question is: there are differences in Mathematics performance when activities are performed on the computer? From this, the overall aim of this work is to compare the performance of students in the discipline of Mathematics, when conducting tests based on paper (PPT) and computer-based (CBT). To support the discussion, we will also address issues related to large-scale assessments, which indicate the performance of students, schools and systems. For this, we divide the dissertation into three articles, in order to address in more detail the different subjects that make up this work. The first paper investigated if previous studies have found differences in performance in Mathematics in digital and printed tests in materials published in journals Portal CAPES. The second article provides an overview of the different evaluations that occur in Brazil and focuses on the National Assessment System (SAEB). The text analyzes the mean performance in Mathematics, systems obtained in Rio Grande do Sul, in the editions 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 of SAEB, to try to understand possible trends and fluctuations in average. The third and final article presents the construction and application of a Mathematics test performance, confronted the results between the digital version and the printed version. In addition, also compared performance on the test paper with the results of the national assessment, since the instrument constructed was based on evaluations SAEB. The set of three articles showed us that although the research in this field are recent, it is possible to think about large-scale assessments performed on the computer. Both performances, PPT and CBT, were different: the strategies for resolution of the issues are modified according to the means of achievement. Furthermore, the use of technology can be a more effective way to school gets its results, so that modifications can be made within the same school year. Finally, using computer for this new purpose, it is possible explore different abilities of students, motivate the use of this tool in the school environment and streamline the process of national evaluation.