Lecture 7

The Questions: What is the role of alternative assessment in language learning? What are the Reasons for using alternative assessment: Provide Examples of alternative assessments? What are some Forms of alternative assessment? What is Performance based assessment?

In the beginning of the semester we talked bout the differences between alternative and traditional assessment methods. We agreed that alternatives to paper and pencils types of assessments are more authentic. We discussed the fact that alternative methods of assessment are formative in purpose, informal in regards to paper pencil type, not summative although, they could be formal if you have clear scoring rubric that guide students in regards to their performance and the expectations.

In alternative assessment methods, students response to a question or a task from the teacher. These responses can come in different forms: portfolios journals essays student project presentations/ performance assessment group work oral reports interviews

Alternative assessment methods help students find different paths to demonstrate their understanding. They help them practice managing the information in more creative and critical thinking ways. Help schools focus on thinking skills rather than memorization. (Spivey, 2010) In language learning, alternative assessment methods show students’ ability to use language not only knowing the language. Real language use. Increase motivation Students take responsibility of their own learning. It shows progress.

Page 13, discussion of the differences between the two methods.

There are many resources available for teachers to help them use alternative methods of assessment. There are many articles and research that talked bout the importance of assessment. There are also many websites and video clips that provide teachers with ideas and creative assignments that encourage differentiation of assessment in classroom. These resources guided this lecture. (see the reference slide for details).

Observation checklists Portfolios Journals Anecdotal records Student project Presentations Group work Oral reports Student interviews

Alternative Assessment methods in language learning All based on the Communicative language theory: The alternative assessment methods shifted from the focus of competency to the ability to function ( use this ability) effectively through language in particular context in a given situation. 1-Interviews: verbal exchange between the teacher and students. Teacher asks the questions and students response to the questions. From students’ responses, teachers will know if the students know/understand/ master the materials or not. 2-Short answers: require students to respond to specific question or a task posed by the teacher that could require them to compare and contrast, describe, draw, present ideas in visualized way using graphs, charts.. 3-Observation: help collect data about students’ learning and progress. 4-Anecdotal records: are observational notes taken by the teachers to record the experiences and the progress of a child (more used in language literacy with children) 5-Performance based assessment: ( we talked abut this method of assessment a lot: lecture 2, lecture 6, and today).

5-Performance-based assessment: involve learners in actually performing the behavior that we want to measure. In interactive tasks, test-takers are measured in the act of speaking, requesting, responding, or in combining listening and speaking, and in integrating reading and writing. -Performance-based assessment is an alternative form of assessment that moves away from traditional paper and pencil tests. -The students are engaged in creating a final project that exhibits their understanding of a concept they have learned. -A unique quality of performance-based assessment is that is allows the students to be assessed based on a process. The teacher is able to see first hand how the students produce language in real-world situations. In addition, performance-based assessments tend to have a higher content validity because a process is being measured. The focus remains on the process, rather than the product in performance-based assessment”. Examples: portfolios, journals, presentations, oral reports, letters, stories. Source:

6-Portfolios: A purposeful collection of student work that demonstrates achievement or improvement. Advantages of portfolio Identify student weaknesses. Can be used to view learning and development of students. Can be used to gather information about students’ assignments and experiences. One of the most important benefits of using portfolios is the enhancement of critical thinking skills which result from the need for students to: Develop evaluation criteria. Can be used as study guide Use this criteria to evaluate their work. Engage in self-reflection about their progress *go back to the YouTube clip :

7- Presentation: A presentation is a mean of communication which can be adapted to various speaking situations, such as talking to a group, addressing a meeting, reporting on a project, presenting findings, or briefing a team. It is the practice of showing and explaining the content of a topic to an audience or learner, and show students’ ability to use the target language effectively.

“If you are using alternative methods of assessment, you need to use rubrics. You need to grade them therefore, you need rubrics. You need an objective way of grading. Based on the criteria you have established, you rate your students’ performance: such as Unacceptable to good to outstanding. In this way students are aware of your expectations You give rubric before the assessment It is like a checklist. because you give them a chance to be creative( outstanding ) or fill on the expectations.” (Spivey, 2010)

Alternative assessment methods show students’ ability to use the target language, Real language use, Increase motivation, Students take responsibility of their own learning, and It shows progress. Teacher needs to use rubric when using alternative assessment methods to be objective and to be clear in her expectations and her grading criteria.

rg/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&module=Rubistar&rubric_id= & Spivey, Brian, School of Education, department of instruction and curriculum.. Escabiacounty school district. Brown, H. Douglas, Language Assessment: Principles and classroom practices. Pearson Education, Inc.

Midterm