Implementation of Web-Based Dynamic Assessments as Sustainable Educational Technique for Enhancing Reading Strategies in English Class during the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in educational disruption at a global scale. Based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 4, “achieving inclusive and quality education for all”, this study designed two feasible learning models for the solution of sustainable learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, GPAM-WATA and Paper-and-Pencil test (PPT). The GPAM-WATA, a web-based dynamic assessment, offers online learning to most of the populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while PPT makes the vulnerable groups’ access to learning possible with the aid of paper-based delivery. A quasi-experimental design was adopted, and both learning models were applied to a junior high school English reading course in Taiwan. A total of 122 seventh graders were randomly assigned to the GPAM-WATA group and PPT group for self-directed learning. The findings show that the GPAM-WATA is a sustainable educational technique that facilitates a better improvement in English reading performance. The PPT also has a positive effect on English reading performance, although not significantly if compared with the GPAM-WATA. This study suggests that GPAM-WATA is effective for English reading instruction in an online learning environment. The PPT can be an alternative approach for students stuck without access to online delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.