Language 4044 Language Teaching Methods

Spring, 2007

(Prepared: December 26, 2006; Last Change: Jan 16, 2007)

 

Syllabus Schedule Assignments Links/Bibliography

 

Assignments

I. Class Topics - D. Assessment / Testing

Introduction

As you read for each assignment, take notes of the main ideas. Be ready to lead and participate in discussion about these ideas, about what you like and don't like, about what you want clarified or what you question, about how to put the ideas into action. You will design one test and one assessment.

Subtopics

Assignments
  1. http://www.carla.umn.edu/assessment/vac/index.html (Note: Reflection serves as an assessment of comprehension)
    1. Why Assess? (Process: Why...?; Instructions...; Answers) (Examples) (Reflection)
    2. Creating An Assessment Unit (Process) (Examples - including Unit Plan Inventory) (Reflection)
    3. What Am I Assessing? (Process: Matching...; A Framework...; Cultures...) (Examples 1-3) (Reflection)
    4. The Modes of Communication (Process: Communication Models; Interpretations...; Using the Modes...) (Examples 1-4) (Reflection)
    5. Evaluation (Process: Introduction; Objective...; Checklists; Rubrics, including Why Use Rubrics?, Types of Rubrics --including Holistic, Analytic and Primary...--, Creating Rubrics, Grades) (Examples1-6) (Reflection)
    6. Research and Theory (Theory of Assessment) (Test Construction) (Test-Taking Strategies)
  2. Teaching Language in Context, 3rd ed (pp. 390-451)
  3. Languages and Children..., 3rd ed (pp. 160-87, 189-98) (skim if this is repetitive of 1 and 2)
  4. Rubrics (skim to avoid repetition)
    1. http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/Assessments/Ideas_and_Rubrics/Rubric_Bank/Choosing_Rubrics/choosing_rubrics.html
    2. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/july/rubrics/Rubric_Guidelines.html
    3. sample the following
      1. http://www.state.nj.us/njded/frameworks/worldlanguages/ (see Appendix B, pp. 6-16)
      2. http://anacleta.homestead.com/assessment.html (PALS; open a variety of analytic and holistic rubrics to get a sense of what they are proposing; I'm not so much interested in the scoring, although you might be) (French/German students can do this)
      3. http://anacleta.homestead.com/assessment.html (World Lang. Assessment Tasks, first link; read the info, then open sample Lesson Plans on left to view plans and assessment; pay attention to the different categories and what is included in each; Is the assessment based on numbers correct?)
      4. http://www.caslt.org/research/rubrics.htm (Grilles d'Evaluation des Compositions; Understanding Puerto Rican...; Writing Rubric and Speaking Rubric Wissahickon High School...; ) (French)
      5. Other (If you know of another site which deals with rubrics and foreign languages, feel free to bring this to our attention)
    4. [Added May 29, 2007: http://www.rubistar.com/.]
  5. Integrated Assessment Model: see Sample ; Finish Portfolio Project A6 (use class alias or Webx if you want to discuss this)
  6. Read through the Praxis Exam Material for the Productive Language Skills Test (pp. 109-128, 129-161) (on reserve: Study Guide. Spanish: Content Knowledge and Productive Language Skills) (You will turn this in.)
    1. Write a reaction paper in which you analyze the test: To what extent does it incorporate the National Standards and ACTFL proficiency guidelines? What types of communication strategies and language structures is it testing? (The French and German are similar to the Spanish version, but I recognize that the specific language structures will likely be somewhat different.)
    2. Write a second part in which you analyze the rubrics: To what extent do they reflect what you learned in 1-5? How do they match up to the Proficiency Performance Guidelines?