Negative Wash-Back of Formative Assessment to Learning in Saudi Higher Education Context

This article reports the wash-back of formative assessment on what students learn, how they learn and the depth of their learning in Saudi higher education context. Previous research indicates that assessment methods affect different aspects of learning either positively or negatively depending on the nature of assessment tasks. Observations indicate a clear association between Saudi students’ learning and how their learning is assessed; so this research was needed to determine how exactly the correlation looked like—positive or negative. The data in this study were collected from Saudi undergraduates by employing a student survey and semi-structured interviews. The survey included Likert scale items of agreement regarding research assignments, quizzes and midterm examinations administered to 250 English-major students. To validate the survey results, sixteen students from different levels with GPA 3 and above were interviewed. The results showed that formative assessment narrowed down the scope of learning materials. The students mostly adopted surface level learning strategies to prepare for formative assessment tasks. Higher order thinking skills were not tested in any of the formative assessment methods. Therefore, it is suggested that assessments tasks should be subjected to thorough validation and moderation. Sound assessment practices should be put in place and practiced judiciously. To achieve these objectives, sustained institutional and departmental professional backing is a prerequisite.

Studies on Liquid Milk Based Diet Formula to Ascertain an Innovative Therapeutic Food With Bifiodo-Genic Properties.

Malnutrition is a condition in which lack, surplus or inequity of macro and/or micro nutrients in the food exert unfavorable impacts on mental, physical and functional characteristic of body. Half of all children in Pakistan are chronically malnourished (stunted) while 11 % are acutely malnourished (wasted). Malnourished children acquire infections more quickly than the normal. This situation has created high mortality and morbidity rates in less than 5 years of age, undermining their mental and physical growth and leading to significant economic impact on the country’s development and prosperity. WHO recommended two therapeutic formula milks F-75 as a starter and F-100 as a catch-up for rebuilding of wasted tissues in acute malnourished children. Keeping in view the malnutrition severity in children of Pakistan and importance of probiotics, a study was designed to compare locally prepared (LF-75 and 100) and commercial (F-75 and 100) provided by UNICEF with the addition of probiotics. Project was divided into 3 studies as Study-I: Preparation of LF-75 and LF-100 and their physiochemical comparison with F75 and F100 was carried out. Both local formulae were prepared from sugar, vegetable oil, whole dried milk powder and mineral mixed according to the quid lines of WHO. The analyses of these formulae milk show non-significant (p>0.05) difference in pH (6.51-6.58), acidity (0.13-0.14%) and lactose (1.30-1.31 and 4.12-4.24%), while the differences was significant (P<0.05) regarding moisture (84.62-85.86 and 81.97-83.43 %), fat (2.94-2.65 and 5.80-6.08%), Protein (0.84-0.94 and 2.57-2.64%), ash (0.35-0.50 and 0.50-0.70%), calcium (50.3-75-35.5 and 579.2-305.2 mg/ 100 g), Fe (1.3-2.3 and 3.1-2.3 mg/ 100 g), Cu (0.19-0.22 and 2.7-1.2 mg/ 100g), Zn (1.9-1.13 and 20.20-15.02 mg/100g), SNF (7.99-7.26 and 13.62-12.62%) and density (1.57-1.03 and 1.47-1.03 g/cm3). In Study-II; the probiotics were added to above formulae milk samples and their viability and efficacy was assessment through biological studies. For this part of study 12 different treatments were prepared (F-75, F-75+P1, F-75+P2, LF-75, LF-75+P1, LF-75+P2, F-100, F-100+P1, F-100+P2, LF-100, LF-100+P1 and LF-100+P2) using probiotics P1: Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (BB-12) and P2: Streptococcus thermophilus (TH-4®), Lactobacillus paracasei 431® and BB-12. This study was divided into four distinct stages. In stage-1 acclimatization of the rats was done with standard diet, while in stage-2, malnutrition was induced by providing nutrient deficient diet. In stage-3, F-75 were provided 2 weeks and then F-100 formulae (both) were implemented. The viability of probiotics at 0 and 24 hours was examined and found that storage time, diet sources and probiotics had significant (p<0.01) influence on the viability of probiotics. The number of probiotics increased enough were present to carry out the therapeutic activities. The viable count were in both samples F-75, F-100, LF-75 and LF-100 containing P2 probiotics followed by the samples containing P1. A significant change (p<0.01) in weight, albumin, blood glucose and other attributes of blood was estimated before and after malnutrition. Glucose, albumin, hemoglobin and WPC were increased in rats who were administrated with F-75 and F-100 containing P1 and P2 followed by the LF-75 and LF-100 containing xviii P1 and P2. Histopathological examination showed the normal results of liver and kidney after getting the therapeutic diet except control. The nanofibers containing probiotics prepared with 9% poly vinyl alcohol showed homogenous, uniform, bead free and smooth texture. Considering the prolonged viability of nanofibers containing probiotics was noted at room temperature. It is concluded from the locally prepare milk formulae containing probiotics could be helpful to reduce rate of malnutrition in children.