Assessment
Assessment Concepts
Overview of Assessment
Definition: A process of gathering information to monitor progress and make educational decisions.
Can include tests, observations, interviews, etc.
Purpose is to assign numerical values and evaluate progress toward objectives.
Types of Assessment
Formative Assessment:
Conducted during the teaching-learning process.
Aims to provide feedback and support continued growth.
Summative Assessment:
Occurs at the end of a course or unit.
Measures what learners have grasped.
Assessment vs. Evaluation
Assessment:
Involves gathering data and feedback, may include tests but is broader in scope.
Evaluation:
Focuses on determining the value or effectiveness of a learning objective based on assessment data.
Measurement and Testing
Measurement
A process of obtaining numerical descriptions of individual characteristics.
Key in assessing skills, knowledge, and progress.
Testing
Definition: A standardized situation that provides an individual with a score.
Types of testing include:
Norm-referenced tests: Compare performance against predetermined standards (e.g., standardized tests like IELTS).
Criterion-referenced tests: Assess performance against specific learning objectives (e.g., classroom tests).
Types of Tests
Proficiency Tests: Measure general language ability, used for future learning assessment.
Diagnostic Tests: Identify strengths and weaknesses of students.
Placement Tests: Assign students to appropriate levels based on proficiency.
Achievement Tests: Measure success in achieving course goals.
Aptitude Tests: Predict future success and possible challenges.
Admission Tests: Evaluate whether students will succeed in a specific field.
Progress Tests: Assess what students have learned during a course.
Evaluation Tests: Measure syllabus and teaching effectiveness.
Test Purposes and Functions
Attainment: Tests retrospective knowledge.
Prognostic: Tests future learning potential.
Test Construction
Testing Methods
Direct Testing: Candidates perform the skills being measured (e.g., presentations).
Indirect Testing: Assesses underlying abilities relevant to primary skills (e.g., grammar in writing).
Test Types
Discrete Tests: Evaluate specific language elements (e.g., multiple-choice).
Integrative Tests: Require combining multiple language elements in tasks (e.g., writing compositions).
Reading
Reading Strategies
Bottom-up: Involves micro-skills such as identifying letters and words.
Top-down: Uses macro-skills, such as activating prior knowledge.
Reading Tasks
Perceptive: Basic reading tasks focusing on letters and punctuation.
Selective: Involves reading sentences and lexical aspects.
Interactive: Engages the reader with a longer text for meaning.
Extensive: Involves reading long texts using top-down strategies.
Listening
Listening Process
Stages of Listening:
Hearing
Attending
Understanding
Remembering
Evaluating
Responding
Challenges in Listening
Transient Nature: Difficulty due to the fleeting nature of speech.
Speech Rate: Fast speaking can hinder understanding.
Writing
Writing Stages
Pre-Writing: Planning and brainstorming ideas.
Drafting: Writing out thoughts.
Revising: Modifying content for clarity and coherence.
Editing: Refining for grammar and style before publishing.
Types of Writing
Imitative: Mimicking examples to understand format.
Intensive: Crafting short, straightforward sentences.
Responsive: Responding to prompts within structured tasks.
Extensive: Engaging in longer writing projects like theses.
Tests Criteria
Validity and Reliability
Validity: Measures if the test effectively assesses its intended content.
Reliability: Ensures consistency in testing results under similar conditions.
Practicality
Factors: Tests should be cost-effective, time-efficient, and easy to administer.
Conclusion
Assessment and testing play critical roles in educational decision-making, focusing on varied methods to evaluate student progress and understanding, aiding in effective teaching and learning outcomes.
صدقة جارية عني و عن كل واحد ذاكر منها او نشرها بين ناس و الله يتقبل منا ومنكم