Taking Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Further: Reviewing Recent Developments and Innovations in IPA Research

Assessment in Arabic language learning as a foreign language (Arabic as a Foreign Language) is currently undergoing a significant paradigm shift. This transformation is influenced by the development of digital technology, the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum in Indonesia, which emphasizes flexibility, differentiation, and learning personalization. This article presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) aimed at identifying, examining, and synthesizing developments, innovations, methodological approaches, and various challenges in the assessment of the four Arabic language skills, namely listening, speaking, reading, and writing, during the period from 2020 to early 2026. The review employed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol to identify and analyze relevant literature. The findings indicate a shift from conventional evaluation systems based on discrete tests toward the implementation of Technology-Enhanced Assessment (TEA) and more authentic forms of assessment. The literature synthesis reveals several key findings. First, diagnostic assessment, encompassing both cognitive and non-cognitive aspects, plays an important role in designing differentiated learning within the framework of the Merdeka Curriculum. Second, the development of assessment instruments for Arabic language maharah is increasingly oriented toward measuring higher-order thinking skills (Higher Order Thinking Skills/HOTS). Third, the utilization of Generative AI, including ChatGPT, as well as various gamification-based learning platforms, has introduced new approaches to providing faster, more adaptive, and interactive feedback. Based on the synthesis, the effectiveness of modern assessment is not determined solely by the sophistication of the technology employed, but also by the alignment between technology and pedagogical objectives, the transparency of assessment procedures, and its ability to comprehensively represent learners' communicative competence while maintaining the principles of academic integrity.

Assessment in Natural and Social Sciences (IPAS) at the elementary school level needs to document students’ knowledge, process skills, and character development continuously rather than relying solely on written test results. This study aimed to develop a flexible portfolio assessment instrument, determine its validity and practicality, and examine its perceived usefulness based on the fourth-grade teacher’s assessment at SD Negeri 075027 Silima Omo. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) approach using the 4D model, comprising Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate stages. The participants included three expert validators, one fourth-grade teacher, and 22 students, with 10 students participating in the small-group trial. The resulting product was a printed portfolio assessment instrument comprising seven integrated components. Validation results yielded mean scores of 3.83 for design, 3.75 for language, and 4.00 for evaluation on a four-point scale. The practicality score increased from 62.50% to 93.75%, while perceived usefulness increased from 64.29% to 85.71%. The small-group trial produced a mean portfolio score of 80.80. The instrument was considered suitable for use; however, inter-rater reliability and its effectiveness in improving learning outcomes require further empirical investigation. ABSTRAK Penilaian pembelajaran Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam dan Sosial (IPAS) di sekolah dasar perlu mencakup perkembangan pengetahuan, keterampilan proses, dan karakter murid secara berkelanjutan, bukan hanya berorientasi pada hasil tes tertulis. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan instrumen penilaian portofolio yang fleksibel, mengetahui kelayakan dan kepraktisannya, serta mengidentifikasi kebermanfaatannya berdasarkan persepsi guru kelas IV di SD Negeri 075027 Silima Omo. Penelitian menggunakan metode Research and Development (R&D) dengan model 4D yang meliputi tahap Define, Design, Develop, dan Disseminate. Subjek penelitian terdiri atas tiga validator ahli, satu guru kelas IV, dan 22 murid, dengan 10 murid sebagai subjek uji coba kelompok kecil. Produk yang dikembangkan berupa instrumen portofolio berbasis cetak dengan tujuh komponen terintegrasi. Hasil validasi menunjukkan skor rata-rata ahli desain 3,83, ahli bahasa 3,75, dan ahli evaluasi 4,00 pada skala empat. Persentase kepraktisan meningkat dari 62,50% menjadi 93,75%, sedangkan kebermanfaatan berdasarkan persepsi guru meningkat dari 64,29% menjadi 85,71%. Rata-rata nilai portofolio kelompok kecil mencapai 80,80. Instrumen dinyatakan layak digunakan, meskipun reliabilitas antarpenilai dan keefektifan terhadap hasil belajar masih memerlukan pengujian lebih lanjut.

The article offers a comparative analysis of the concept of pedagogical mastery in Uzbek, Russian and international scholarship and systematises official statistical data on the teaching workforce in Uzbekistan's general secondary education. The study uses a documentary-analytical review, comparative analysis and descriptive statistics; no experimental component was conducted. According to the National Statistics Committee, the number of teachers in general secondary schools grew from 486.6 thousand in 2019/2020 to 577.7 thousand in 2025/2026 (+18.7%), women account for 72.5% of the workforce, and regional differences reach a factor of 4.6. International evidence (Shulman; Hattie; Kunter et al.; Darling-Hammond et al.) indicates that teaching quality depends less on workforce expansion than on the integration of knowledge, practice, personal-value, reflective and digital-methodological components. The author proposes a five-component integrative conceptual model and formulates recommendations for qualitative monitoring of teacher capacity and for the design of professional development

Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in dental education, but research has focused mainly on answer accuracy. Whether LLMs can identify the cognitive demand of examination items remains unclear. This study evaluated LLM classification fidelity for endodontic multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across three educational taxonomies and compared four publicly accessible models. Two hundred endodontic MCQs from the Turkish Dentistry Specialty Examination (DUS, 2012–2025) were classified by ChatGPT, Gemini, Kimi, and DeepSeek according to Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, the SOLO Taxonomy, and Miller’s Pyramid. A three-layer expert consensus procedure comprising calibration training, procedural audit, and structured joint deliberation established the expert consensus reference standard. Agreement was assessed using weighted Cohen’s kappa (κw) with bootstrap 95% confidence intervals; classification performance was evaluated using accuracy and macro-averaged F1. Inter-model differences in item-level accuracy were tested using Cochran’s Q with Kendall’s W, followed by Holm–Bonferroni-corrected pairwise McNemar tests. For Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, Gemini (κw=0.676) and DeepSeek (κw=0.667) achieved substantial agreement, while Kimi (κw=0.428) and ChatGPT (κw=0.365) performed lower. For SOLO, Gemini achieved substantial agreement (κw=0.622), while the remaining models showed moderate agreement. For Miller’s Pyramid, agreement did not exceed fair, with ChatGPT highest (κw=0.372). Inter-model differences were significant for all three taxonomies (all p<0.001). ChatGPT ranked lowest for Revised Bloom and SOLO but highest for Miller. Revised Bloom levels of expert consensus reference standard increased significantly across examination years (Spearman ρ=0.301, p<0.001). LLMs showed meaningful classification fidelity for Revised Bloom and SOLO taxonomies, particularly Gemini and DeepSeek, but performance for Miller’s Pyramid remained weak. Bloom, SOLO, and Miller should not be treated as interchangeable frameworks, and LLM selection should be tailored to the taxonomy and assessment purpose. Answer accuracy and taxonomy classification fidelity represent distinct capabilities that warrant independent evaluation.

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the methodological toolkit for research on language education in the Baltic States under conditions of digitalization. The expediency of using a multi-level structure of scientific inquiry, which includes theoretical-methodological, system-analytical, and generalizing-prognostic levels, is substantiated. It is proven that such a research logic ensures the integrity of the scientific strategy, consistency in studying the problem, and reliability of the obtained results. The content of the theoretical-methodological level is revealed, which involves understanding the essence of language education digitalization, forming the source base, clarifying the conceptual and terminological framework, and defining the conceptual foundations of the study. The significance of general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, systematization, generalization, and interpretation, as well as specific scientific methods of theoretical generalization, historical-structural, comparative-historical, and terminological analysis, is determined. The system-analytical level aimed at an in-depth study of the source base, systematization of factual material, development of the periodization of language education digitalization, and comparative analysis of educational practices in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia is characterized. The role of the problem-search method, theoretical modeling, retrospective analysis, comparative approach, and periodization method is identified. It has been found that the generalizing-prognostic level ensures the integration of research results, the identification of leading trends in the digital transformation of language education, the formulation of practical recommendations for higher education institutions in Ukraine, and the forecasting of prospects for the field's further development. Particular attention is paid to the possibilities for adapting the Baltic States' construction experience to the Ukrainian educational space. It is concluded that the application of an integrated system of methods and scientific approaches creates a proper basis for studying digitalization of language education, makes it possible to identify patterns of its development, and determine effective directions for modernizing language training in higher education.