New South Wales seeks return to paper-based NAPLAN writing assessments

Currently, only year 3 students complete the writing portion of NAPLAN using paper, while older students utilize computers. All other NAPLAN components, including reading, numeracy, spelling, grammar, and punctuation, are administered online.

The shift to online testing initially occurred in 2018 to enhance testing precision and expedite result delivery. New South Wales Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car attributes a recent decline in national writing proficiency to prolonged technology use in classrooms, emphasizing the importance of foundational writing skills for student success.

“We’re listening to teachers and families who want a sensible, balanced approach to technology use in schools,” Car stated.

Associate Professor Marian Vidal-Fernandez of the University of Sydney supports the proposed change, lamenting that the initial transition to online testing was a misstep. She argues that aligning assessments with classroom practices, where most primary students still write by hand, would benefit students.

“Doing the exam in the same way that they work in class should … benefit the average student,” Vidal-Fernandez explained. Research from Portugal and the United States, she noted, indicates a decline in scores when students transition from handwritten to computer-based assessments.

Associate Professor Anabela Malpique of Edith Cowan University, a researcher of writing instruction for a decade, also supports the move, highlighting the significance of handwriting for learning and memory. “Thinking with a pencil, as we used to say, is very, very critical,” she said.

While cost concerns related to marking handwritten papers may arise, Vidal-Fernandez suggests artificial intelligence could assist in the evaluation process. Malpique notes that implementing the change would be simpler in primary schools but require more planning in secondary schools, potentially impacting how typing skills are taught. Current surveys indicate primary teachers dedicate approximately nine minutes weekly to keyboard skills, compared to 31 minutes for handwriting.

Both experts stressed the need for accommodations for students with learning difficulties and emphasized the importance of avoiding a uniform policy.