COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the course on English Language Assessment & Feedback Techniques. This course is designed to provide educators with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively assess and provide feedback to students in the English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) sector. Through this course, you will learn about various assessment methods, feedback strategies, and techniques to enhance student learning and outcomes.
We begin with an introduction to assessment and feedback, highlighting the importance of assessment in the ELICOS context. We will explore the different types of assessment, including formative and summative assessments, and provide an overview of various feedback mechanisms that support student learning and development.
Next, we will delve into the principles of effective assessment, focusing on validity, reliability, fairness, and flexibility. These principles ensure that assessments accurately measure student learning, provide consistent results, and accommodate diverse learner needs.
Designing formative assessments is a critical skill for educators. This section will cover the purpose and benefits of formative assessment, strategies for creating effective formative assessments, and how to use these assessments to inform and improve instruction.
In contrast, designing summative assessments involves evaluating student learning at the end of an instructional period. We will discuss the purpose and benefits of summative assessment, developing summative assessment tools, and aligning these assessments with learning outcomes to ensure they accurately reflect student achievement.
Diagnostic and placement testing are essential for understanding student abilities and placing them in appropriate learning levels. We will explore the purpose of diagnostic testing, strategies for designing placement tests, and how to use diagnostic data to tailor instruction to meet individual student needs.
Performance-based assessment offers a practical approach to evaluating student skills through real-world tasks. This section will cover the principles of performance-based assessment, designing performance tasks, and evaluating student performance using these methods.
Rubrics and scoring guides provide a structured way to assess student work consistently. We will discuss how to develop effective rubrics, use them for consistent scoring, and train teachers to apply these tools accurately.
Alternative assessment techniques offer diverse ways to measure student learning. We will explore the use of portfolios, self-assessments, and peer assessments, and how to integrate these alternative assessments into the ELICOS curriculum to provide a comprehensive evaluation of student progress.
Feedback strategies are crucial for guiding student improvement. We will cover various types of feedback—oral, written, and digital—the timing and frequency of feedback, and ensuring feedback is constructive and actionable to support student learning.
Assessing language skills requires specific techniques. This section will discuss methods for assessing listening and speaking skills, reading and writing skills, and integrated skills assessment to provide a holistic evaluation of student language proficiency.
Continuous assessment and progress monitoring are vital for ongoing student development. We will explore strategies for ongoing assessment, tracking student progress, and adjusting instruction based on assessment data to meet evolving learner needs.
Finally, evaluating and improving assessment practices involves gathering and analysing feedback on assessments, revising assessment tools and strategies, and implementing changes based on evaluation data. This continuous improvement process ensures that assessment practices remain effective and aligned with educational goals.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of ELICOS assessment and feedback techniques, enabling you to design, implement, and refine assessments that enhance student learning and success.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Assessment and Feedback
- Importance of Assessment in ELICOS
- Types of Assessment: Formative and Summative
- Overview of Feedback Mechanisms
2. Principles of Effective Assessment
- Validity
- Reliability
- Fairness
- Flexibility
3. Designing Formative Assessments
- Purpose and Benefits of Formative Assessment
- Creating Effective Formative Assessments
- Using Formative Assessments to Inform Instruction
4. Designing Summative Assessments
- Purpose and Benefits of Summative Assessment
- Developing Summative Assessment Tools
- Aligning Summative Assessments with Learning Outcomes
5. Diagnostic and Placement Testing
- Purpose of Diagnostic Testing
- Designing Placement Tests
- Using Diagnostic Data to Tailor Instruction
6. Performance-Based Assessment
- Principles of Performance-Based Assessment
- Designing Performance Tasks
- Evaluating Performance-Based Assessments
7. Rubrics and Scoring Guides
- Developing Effective Rubrics
- Using Rubrics for Consistent Scoring
- Training Teachers to Use Rubrics
8. Alternative Assessment Techniques
- Portfolios and Self-Assessments
- Peer Assessment Methods
- Integrating Alternative Assessments in ELICOS
9. Feedback Strategies
- Types of Feedback: Oral, Written, and Digital
- Timing and Frequency of Feedback
- Ensuring Constructive and Actionable Feedback
10. Assessing Language Skills
- Assessing Listening and Speaking Skills
- Assessing Reading and Writing Skills
- Integrated Skills Assessment
11. Continuous Assessment and Progress Monitoring
- Strategies for Ongoing Assessment
- Tracking Student Progress
- Adjusting Instruction Based on Assessment Data
12. Evaluating and Improving Assessment Practices
- Gathering and Analysing Feedback on Assessments
- Revising Assessment Tools and Strategies
- Implementing Changes Based on Evaluation Data
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.