Developing multi-level PISA test questions to foster natural science literacy

Functional literacy is the ability of a person to use knowledge acquired during their life to solve a wide range of life challenges in various spheres of human activity, communication and social interactions.

One of the components of functional literacy is natural science literacy of students, which includes such science as physics

As part of the vacation school program, Örken East Kazakhstan Regional Scientific and Methodological Center for Informatization and Education Development of Education Administration of East Kazakhstan region, jointly with a teacher of physics from NIS of Chemistry and Biology of Ust-Kamenogorsk city Doszhan E. Esengeldi, held a workshop on the topic: “Developing multi-level PISA test questions to foster natural science literacy” for teachers of physics from schools of the region with the Kazakh language of instruction.

The goal of the workshop was to enhance the professional competencies of teachers in developing functional literacy of schoolchildren in the subject of physics. By analyzing and examining examples of PISA physics test questions, it is intended to deepen participants’ understanding of natural science literacy, introduce them to key aspects and evaluation criteria within the framework of PISA, as well as analyze examples of tasks to develop skills for effective physics teaching.

During the seminar, teachers learned about the main characteristics of natural science literacy and their importance in education, delved into methods for assessing natural science literacy within the framework of PISA, analyzed examples of PISA physics tasks, identifying their key elements and objectives, developed skills to adapt and create our own physics test questions that meet the PISA criteria, exchanged experiences and ideas on introducing natural science literacy into the educational process, which fosters critical thinking and research skills of students.