Module LANG42515: Evaluation and Assessment

Department: English Language Centre

LANG42515: Evaluation and Assessment

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• at the end of this module students will:
• have a full working knowledge of principles of assessment
• design effective assessment instruments

Content

• the module will explore issues in assessment and evaluation in language teaching. Learners will examine the principles behind different forms of assessment and the effective design of assessments, encountering language assessment procedures, both formative and summative, in a range of contexts
• the links between testing and assessment and the goals and objectives of language teaching will be considered

Learning Outcomes

• understanding of methods of enquiry appropriate to issues in assessment, including concepts of validity and reliability in language test design
• knowledge of key forms and formats of assessments, tests and test items and the merits and drawbacks of each
• knowledge and understanding of factors influencing the effective implementation of assessments
• understanding of statistical measures applied and reported in major language tests

• ability to design test items which meet the standards required of effective assessments
• ability to implement an effective assessment tool, appropriate for a target pedagogical context

• ability to read and understand primary texts in assessment
• ability to respond appropriately to a given pedagogical context

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• lectures will introduce principles underlying assessment. The lectures will also introduce key approaches relevant to effective language assessment. As a result, the students will have a good command of relevant theoretical background and be able to apply this knowledge to the design of assessments
• seminar support will support learners in the development of their own language assessments and will enable further discussion of key issues in assessment

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Design and presentation of sample test items. Draft assessment tool

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University