Students

APPL8240 – Language Testing and Evaluation

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Mehdi Riazi
mehdi.riazi@mq.edu.au
Margaret Wood
margaret.wood@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MAppLing or MAppLingTESOL or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL or MEd
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit covers key concepts and issues in language testing and provides students with principles and techniques for designing and evaluating language tests and assessment tasks. Functions of language tests, models of language proficiency, assessment of language skills and components, and frame of reference for interpreting test scores are among the topics discussed in this unit. The unit also focuses on other issues such as test usefulness framework and language tests in social contexts. Overall, the aim of the unit is to develop assessment literacy in current or future teachers.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain key terms and concepts in language testing and assessment including a range of purposes for assessment
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate issues and challenges in assessing language skills and components
  • ULO3: Identify and communicate key features of quality assessment to a professional audience
  • ULO4: Apply quality assessment features to a language tests and assessment tasks to evaluate their usefulness
  • ULO5: Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the main concepts, purposes, and procedures in language testing

General Assessment Information

Late submission

  • If assignments are submitted after the due date without an approved extension, they are deemed late. Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty and will not be marked if more than 2 weeks late.
  • All assignments submitted after the deadline, regardless of the reason, will be marked and returned at a date determined by the unit convenor.
  • Extensions cannot continue beyond the start of the following semester, and students should be aware that long extensions may impact graduation dates.
  • Extensions will only be given in special circumstances and can be requested by completing the Special Consideration request at ask.mq.edu.au and providing the required supporting documentation.

For more information on Special Consideration, see the university website https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

For more detailed information about assessment tasks please refer to the Unit Guide in iLearn. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Active participation 5% No All through the semester
Group oral presentation 15% No Week 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13
Assessment Task 1: Annotated bibliography 25% No Sunday August 23
Review paper 30% No Sunday September 20
Final test 25% No Tuesday November 10

Active participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: All through the semester
Weighting: 5%

 

Students will take part in the online classes and discussion forum to consolidate their learning.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain key terms and concepts in language testing and assessment including a range of purposes for assessment
  • Identify and communicate key features of quality assessment to a professional audience
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the main concepts, purposes, and procedures in language testing

Group oral presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13
Weighting: 15%

 

Students will prepare and present a group oral presentation on their chosen topics for the first assessment task

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain key terms and concepts in language testing and assessment including a range of purposes for assessment
  • Critically evaluate issues and challenges in assessing language skills and components
  • Identify and communicate key features of quality assessment to a professional audience
  • Apply quality assessment features to a language tests and assessment tasks to evaluate their usefulness

Assessment Task 1: Annotated bibliography

Assessment Type 1: Annotated bibliography
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Sunday August 23
Weighting: 25%

 

Choose an issue or challenge related to a module in a language test; search the databases and prepare an annotated bibliography

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain key terms and concepts in language testing and assessment including a range of purposes for assessment
  • Critically evaluate issues and challenges in assessing language skills and components
  • Apply quality assessment features to a language tests and assessment tasks to evaluate their usefulness

Review paper

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Sunday September 20
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will change their first assessment task (annotated bibliography) into an essay.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain key terms and concepts in language testing and assessment including a range of purposes for assessment
  • Critically evaluate issues and challenges in assessing language skills and components
  • Identify and communicate key features of quality assessment to a professional audience
  • Apply quality assessment features to a language tests and assessment tasks to evaluate their usefulness
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the main concepts, purposes, and procedures in language testing

Final test

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Tuesday November 10
Weighting: 25%

 

Students will be assessed on the content of the unit to make sure they have read the unit materials and have mastered key concepts and procedures.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain key terms and concepts in language testing and assessment including a range of purposes for assessment
  • Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the main concepts, purposes, and procedures in language testing

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This unit is offered fully online. There will be weekly online lectures that students must attend. The online lectures cover the same topics as listed in the unit schedule. Students must read unit materials and perform learning activities from the textbook and reading list. Students are encouraged to participate in group and online discussions and post their reflections in the general “Forum”. They are also urged to use “Glossary” to post a concise definition of key terms and concepts related to language testing and assessment. 

The required textbook for this unit is:

Brown, D. (2004). Language assessment: Principles and classroom practices. NY: Longman.

This book provides a general introduction to the field of language testing and is aimed at language teaching practitioners.

In addition to the required textbook, some journal articles and book chapters related to the topics covered in the unit are recommended.

As a Macquarie University student, you are entitled to access a variety of sources including journal articles through the library’s page: http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/

Recommended other texts:

The recommended additional readings will be available on Leganto.

 

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

Presenter

Readings

 

Tasks

 

1

July 28

 

Introduction to the unit (Review of the unit outline & assessment tasks) + Participants’ backgrounds & interests

Mehdi Riazi

--

Overall introduction to the unit

Forming groups

 

 

2

Aug. 4

 

Contexts of language tests

Students’ experiences with language tests in their contexts

Group Oral Presentations

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 1

GOP

 

3

Aug. 11

Contexts of language tests

Students’ experiences with language tests in their contexts

Group Oral Presentations

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 1

GOP

 

4

 

Aug. 18

Principles of language assessment: Quality features of language tests

Mehdi Riazi

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 2

Assignment 1 is due on Sunday August 23th at 23:55 Sydney time

5

 

Aug. 25

Designing tests: Purposes of language tests

Mehdi Riazi

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 3

 

 

 

6

Sept. 1

 

Standardized testing: Stages in test construction + Test specifications

Mehdi Riazi

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 4

 

 

 

 

7

Sept. 8

 

 

 

Interpreting test scores: Norm-referenced vs. Criterion-referenced tests

 

Mehdi Riazi

Bachman (1990) Chapter 3 (pp. 72-80)

 

 

Recess (Sept. 14-27)

Assignment 2 is due on Sunday September 20 at 23:55 Sydney Time

                                      

Week

Topic

Presenter

Readings

Tasks

 

8

Sept. 29

 

 

Task-based Language Assessment (TBLA)

Mehdi Riazi

McNamara (2000) Chapter 7

Hamp-Lyons (2000)

*Brindley (2013)

Language Testing (2002). The special issue on TBLA

 

 

9

Oct. 6

 

 

Language testing and assessment in social contexts

Mehdi Riazi

McNamara & Roever (2006) Chapter 2

 

10

Oct. 13

 

 

Assessing Listening

Group Oral Presentations

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 6

 

GOPs

 

11

Oct. 20

 

 

Assessing Speaking

 

Group Oral Presentations

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 7

*Ginther (2013)

GOPs

 

 

12

 

Oct. 27

 

Assessing Reading

Group Oral Presentations

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 8

*Koda (2013)

*Brindley (1998)

*Ockey (2013)

GOPs

 

13

 

Nov. 3

 

Assessing Writing

Group Oral Presentations

Brown’s (2004)

Chapter 9

*Weigle (2002) Chapter 5

*Weigle (2013)

 

 

GOPs

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.