Course Title: Testing and assessment
Semester One, 2014/ 015
Time: Tuesday 1:00 – 3:20
Venue: Central library, Room 1
Subject description
This subject provides a broad overview of the major principles involved in second and foreign language testing and assessment. The focus is on both the theoretical and practical issues in testing and assessment. The subject examines English language assessment including proficiency and placement tests, high-stakes standardized testing, and traditional and non-traditional assessment. It also examines testing techniques and procedures. The assessment of the four basic language skills that demonstrate language proficiency is also examined. This subject emphasizes the general principals of English language test construction and administration. Students are provided with practical experience in preparing, correcting, analyzing and assessing language tests.
Subject Objectives
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
· Understand the key concepts and the basic principles of language testing and assessment.
· Criticize the relationship of testing to teaching practice and syllabus design.
· Understand approaches and techniques in language test development and validation.
· Evaluate a test format in terms of purpose and appropriateness.
· Construct and design a test for a specific skill.
· Understand and follow an assessment rubric in order to develop a standardized language test.
Content
Basic concepts and principles of language testing and assessment: Validity,Reliability, Practicality, Authenticity, and Backwash or wash-back. Types of assessment: Summative and formative assessments. Test specification. Types of tests: Placement test, Achievement test, Diagnostic test, and Proficiency test. Grading and scoring. Alternative assessment: Portfolios, Journals, and Self/Peer assessment.
Teaching and learning strategies
Before coming to class, please, read the assigned topics and relevant materials. Assignments should be submitted on the given dates; late assignments are not accepted.
Program
Week
|
Dates
|
Description
|
Presenters
|
Week 1
|
2 Sep.
7/11/35
|
Registration week
|
****
|
Week 2
|
9 Sep.
14/ 11
|
Ice-breaking.
An introduction to basic concepts in language testing and assessment.
|
****
|
Week 3
|
16 Sep
21/ 11
|
Discuss the weekly topics: Each student will pick a card that includes a topic for presentation and class discussion.
|
****
|
Week 4
|
23 Sep
28/ 11
|
National day break
|
****
|
Week 5
|
30 Sep.
6/ 12
|
Hajj break
|
****
|
Week 6
|
7 Oct.
13/ 12
|
Hajj break
|
****
|
Week 7
|
14 Oct.
20/ 12
|
Principle of language assessment and testing: Validity
Principle of language assessment and testing: Reliability
|
|
Week 8
|
21 Oct.
27/ 12
|
Principle of language assessment and testing: Practicality
Principle of language assessment and testing: Authenticity
First Assignment
|
|
Week 9
|
28 Oct.
4/ 1/ 36
|
Principle of language assessment and testing: Backwash or wash-back
|
|
Week 10
|
4 Nov.
11/ 1
|
Types of assessment: Summative and formative asses
|
|
Week 11
|
11 Nov.
18/ 1
|
Test specification
|
|
Week 12
|
18 Nov.
25/ 1
|
Types of tests: Placement test
Types of tests: achievement test
|
|
Week 13
|
25 Nov.
2/ 2
|
Types of tests: Diagnostic test
Types of tests: Proficiency test
|
|
Week 14
|
2 Dec.
9/ 2
|
Grading and scoring
Second Assignment
|
|
Week 15
|
9 Dec.
16/ 2
|
Alternative assessment: portfolios
|
|
Week 16
|
16 Dec.
23/ 2
|
Alternative assessment: Journals
|
|
Week 17
|
23 Dec.
30/ 2
|
Alternative assessment: self and peer assessment
|
|
Week 18
|
30 Dec.
7/ 3
|
Third Assignment
|
|
Assessment
1- Individual assignment (20 marks), 1000 words reflection is due on 21/10/2014.
Each student will pick a card that includes a topic for presentation and class discussion.
2- Group work assignment (25 marks), 2000 words equivalent report is due on 2/12/2014. Evaluate and criticize two types of test techniques in relation to the curriculum and teaching practice at the ELI. (Examine test items provided by the ELI Test Unit).
3- Final project (50 marks), 3000 words equivalent paper is due on 30/12/2014.
Work with a partner and design a short test relevant to the ELI context, on one of the four language skills. Evaluate your test in the light of ‘principles of language assessment’ (i.e. validity and reliability).
4- Class participation (5 marks).
Recommended Readings
1- Brown, H. D., & Abeywickrama, P. (2010). Language assessment: Principles and classroom practices. New York: Pearson Education. (Pdf.) (KEY TEXT)
2- Fulcher, G. (2010). Practical language testing. UK: Hodder Education. (Pdf.)(KEY TEXT)
3- Hughes, A. (2003). Testing for language teachers (2nd Ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Pdf.)
4- Alderson, J. C., Clapham, C., & Wall, D., (1995). Language test construction and evaluation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (central library)
5- Douglas, D. (2010). Understanding language testing. UK: Hodder Education.
6- McKay, P. (2006). Assessing Young Language Learners, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. (pdf.)
7- Weir, Cyril, J. (2005). Language testing and validation: an evidence-based approach. Macmillan: Palgrave. (Pdf.)
8- Fultcher, G. and Davison, F. (2007). Language testing and assessment: an advanced resource book. New York: Routledge. (Pdf.)
Relevant Journals
9- Language Assessment Quarterly
10- Language Testing (Sage Journals)
11- Assessing Writing: An International Journal
Other Resources
12- Language Testing Resources Website: http://www.languagetesting.info/
This site is designed and maintained by Prof. Glenn Fulcher
Course Title: Testing and assessment
Semester One, 2014/ 015
Time: Tuesday 1:00 – 3:20
Venue: Central library, Room 1
Subject description
This subject provides a broad overview of the major principles involved in second and foreign language testing and assessment. The focus is on both the theoretical and practical issues in testing and assessment. The subject examines English language assessment including proficiency and placement tests, high-stakes standardized testing, and traditional and non-traditional assessment. It also examines testing techniques and procedures. The assessment of the four basic language skills that demonstrate language proficiency is also examined. This subject emphasizes the general principals of English language test construction and administration. Students are provided with practical experience in preparing, correcting, analyzing and assessing language tests.
Subject Objectives
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
· Understand the key concepts and the basic principles of language testing and assessment.
· Criticize the relationship of testing to teaching practice and syllabus design.
· Understand approaches and techniques in language test development and validation.
· Evaluate a test format in terms of purpose and appropriateness.
· Construct and design a test for a specific skill.
· Understand and follow an assessment rubric in order to develop a standardized language test.
Content
Basic concepts and principles of language testing and assessment: Validity,Reliability, Practicality, Authenticity, and Backwash or wash-back. Types of assessment: Summative and formative assessments. Test specification. Types of tests: Placement test, Achievement test, Diagnostic test, and Proficiency test. Grading and scoring. Alternative assessment: Portfolios, Journals, and Self/Peer assessment.
Teaching and learning strategies
Before coming to class, please, read the assigned topics and relevant materials. Assignments should be submitted on the given dates; late assignments are not accepted.
Program
Week
|
Dates
|
Description
|
Presenters
|
Week 1
|
2 Sep.
7/11/35
|
Registration week
|
****
|
Week 2
|
9 Sep.
14/ 11
|
Ice-breaking.
An introduction to basic concepts in language testing and assessment.
|
****
|
Week 3
|
16 Sep
21/ 11
|
Discuss the weekly topics: Each student will pick a card that includes a topic for presentation and class discussion.
|
****
|
Week 4
|
23 Sep
28/ 11
|
National day break
|
****
|
Week 5
|
30 Sep.
6/ 12
|
Hajj break
|
****
|
Week 6
|
7 Oct.
13/ 12
|
Hajj break
|
****
|
Week 7
|
14 Oct.
20/ 12
|
Principle of language assessment and testing: Validity
Principle of language assessment and testing: Reliability
|
|
Week 8
|
21 Oct.
27/ 12
|
Principle of language assessment and testing: Practicality
Principle of language assessment and testing: Authenticity
First Assignment
|
|
Week 9
|
28 Oct.
4/ 1/ 36
|
Principle of language assessment and testing: Backwash or wash-back
|
|
Week 10
|
4 Nov.
11/ 1
|
Types of assessment: Summative and formative asses
|
|
Week 11
|
11 Nov.
18/ 1
|
Test specification
|
|
Week 12
|
18 Nov.
25/ 1
|
Types of tests: Placement test
Types of tests: achievement test
|
|
Week 13
|
25 Nov.
2/ 2
|
Types of tests: Diagnostic test
Types of tests: Proficiency test
|
|
Week 14
|
2 Dec.
9/ 2
|
Grading and scoring
Second Assignment
|
|
Week 15
|
9 Dec.
16/ 2
|
Alternative assessment: portfolios
|
|
Week 16
|
16 Dec.
23/ 2
|
Alternative assessment: Journals
|
|
Week 17
|
23 Dec.
30/ 2
|
Alternative assessment: self and peer assessment
|
|
Week 18
|
30 Dec.
7/ 3
|
Third Assignment
|
|
Assessment
1- Individual assignment (20 marks), 1000 words reflection is due on 21/10/2014.
Each student will pick a card that includes a topic for presentation and class discussion.
2- Group work assignment (25 marks), 2000 words equivalent report is due on 2/12/2014. Evaluate and criticize two types of test techniques in relation to the curriculum and teaching practice at the ELI. (Examine test items provided by the ELI Test Unit).
3- Final project (50 marks), 3000 words equivalent paper is due on 30/12/2014.
Work with a partner and design a short test relevant to the ELI context, on one of the four language skills. Evaluate your test in the light of ‘principles of language assessment’ (i.e. validity and reliability).
4- Class participation (5 marks).
Recommended Readings
1- Brown, H. D., & Abeywickrama, P. (2010). Language assessment: Principles and classroom practices. New York: Pearson Education. (Pdf.) (KEY TEXT)
2- Fulcher, G. (2010). Practical language testing. UK: Hodder Education. (Pdf.)(KEY TEXT)
3- Hughes, A. (2003). Testing for language teachers (2nd Ed). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Pdf.)
4- Alderson, J. C., Clapham, C., & Wall, D., (1995). Language test construction and evaluation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (central library)
5- Douglas, D. (2010). Understanding language testing. UK: Hodder Education.
6- McKay, P. (2006). Assessing Young Language Learners, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. (pdf.)
7- Weir, Cyril, J. (2005). Language testing and validation: an evidence-based approach. Macmillan: Palgrave. (Pdf.)
8- Fultcher, G. and Davison, F. (2007). Language testing and assessment: an advanced resource book. New York: Routledge. (Pdf.)
Relevant Journals
9- Language Assessment Quarterly
10- Language Testing (Sage Journals)
11- Assessing Writing: An International Journal
Other Resources
12- Language Testing Resources Website: http://www.languagetesting.info/
This site is designed and maintained by Prof. Glenn Fulcher