Course syllabus

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SEMESTER 1, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor and Teacher: 

 Professor John Read

Email: ja.read@auckland.ac.nz

Phone:  DDI +64-9-923-7673; Extension 87673

Arts 2/CLL Building, 18 Symonds St, Room 206

 

Course delivery format:

This is an online course, delivered primarily through self-study of weekly modules which will be accessible through Canvas. 

There will be a weekly one-hour meeting. Depending on the composition of the class, this is likely to involve a face-to-face meeting on campus for students resident in Auckland and/or a video link for distance students.

 

Course Description:              

Assessing learners is an essential part of what language teachers do as they deliver their courses. In some situations, teachers are free to design appropriate assessments that relate directly to the curriculum and classroom learning objectives. However, it is perhaps more common worldwide that teachers are preparing their students to take a national examination or one of the international tests like IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC or a Cambridge exam. In both cases, it is important that teachers understand the basic principles of assessment and know what the options are for designing appropriate measures of learners’ knowledge and ability. This in a nutshell is what the course offers in terms of content.

The first assignment involves an evaluation of a test or assessment procedure. For the second assignment, students work individually on designing and writing a test or assessment procedure, which they can try out in their own context if they have the opportunity. Students are also required to contribute each week to a Discussion Forum, responding to questions and tasks related to the topic of the week.

 Course outcomes:

This is a course on current concepts, procedures and issues in language assessment.  By the end of the course, students should have: 

  1. an awareness of various approaches to language assessment and current issues in the field
  2. an ability to evaluate particular testing or assessment procedures, with particular references to their purpose and context of use
  3. experience of developing a small-scale test or assessment procedure.

 

 Assessment Summary:

Assignment 1  30%

Assignment 2  50%

In-course Contributions 20%  (based on posts to the weekly Discussion Forums)

 

 Weekly Topics: 

Week

Topic

1

Introduction:  What is a language test?

Principles and purposes of assessment

Feb 26 -- Mar 4

2

Models of language ability and their implications for test design

Mar 5 -11

3

Stages of test development

Mar 12 - 18

4

The assessment of listening and reading skills

Mar 19 - 25

5

The design of speaking and writing tests

Mar 26 - Apr 1

6

The rating process

Apr 16 - 22

7

Validity and the process of validation

Apr 23 - 29

8

Statistical analysis of tests

Apr 30 - May 6

9

Alternative forms of assessment

May 7 - 13

10

Formative assessment in the classroom

May 14 - 20

11

The educational and social impact of language tests

May 21 - 27

12

Computer-based testing and other innovations

May 27 - June 3

 

 

Prescribed Texts:

The course is based on weekly set readings, which will be available through Canvas,

 Recommended Texts:

The following book is recommended for preliminary reading and to give an overview of many of the course topics:

McNamara, T. (2000).  Language testing.  Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.

Course summary:

Date Details Due