This Semester Two option in the M Ed/MSc TESOL cluster provides students with an overview of theories and practices of assessing language proficiency. The characteristics of feedback and testing for different purposes are explored, along with implications for teaching and learning

Class sessions - 2 hours per week, 10 weeks.
1 tutorial
complete on line tasks troughout the course

Test design Project in two parts consisting of

Written assignment (3,200 words: 80%) submitted the day before part 2 (the presentation)

Oral presentation on the process (20 mins plus 10 mins for questions: 20%)

To understand how proficiency is described for a range of contexts of use
To learn theories of testing and critically evaluate applications
To understand the impact of feedback and testing on learning

Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course students will be able to demonstrate
an understanding of the concept of proficiency in a language and how to aply it to course aims and measurable outcomes
an understanding of a range of testing theories and evaluate their appropriacy for a particular purpose
an understanding of the statistical methods of checking the validity of tests
demonstrate an understanding of types of feedback and the effect they have on the recipient
develop a test for a particular learning context
apply an appropriate testing method to measure a learning outcome

On completion of the course, students will have the ability to critically evaluate the usefulness, validity and reliability of a test evaluate proficiency of language skill for a range of contexts of use

work in a group to achive a joint aim

trial a small test
present a text following academic conventions for tone, citation and referencing

pass mark