Full Description
Local Language Testing: Design, Implementation, and Development describes the language testing practice that exists in the intermediate space between large-scale standardized testing and classroom assessment, an area that is rarely addressed in the language testing and assessment literature. Covering both theory and practice, the book focuses on the advantages of local tests, fosters and encourages their use, and provides suggested ideas for their development and maintenance. The authors include examples of operational tests with well-proven track records and discuss:
the ability of local tests to represent local contexts and values, explicitly and purposefully embed test results within instructional practice, and provide data for program evaluation and research;
local testing practices grounded in the theoretical principles of language testing, drawing from experiences with local testing and providing practical examples of local language tests, illustrating how they can be designed to effectively function within and across different institutional contexts;
examples of how local language tests and assessments are developed for use within a specific context and how they serve a variety of purposes (e.g., entry-level proficiency testing, placement testing, international teaching assistant testing, writing assessment, and program evaluation).
Aimed at language program directors, graduate students, and researchers involved in language program development and evaluation, this is a timely book in that it focuses on the advantages of local tests, fosters and encourages their use, and outlines their development and maintenance. It constitutes essential reading for language program directors, graduate students, and researchers involved in language program development and evaluation.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction
Why local tests?
Introduction
Our tests
Contexts and problem solving
Large-scale language tests and academic language testing
Organization of the rest of this volume
Further reading
References
Chapter 2: Local tests, local contexts
Introduction
Local contexts and test purpose - decisions about test-takers
Linking test purpose to instructional outcomes
Further reading
References
Chapter 3: Local test development
Introduction
Planning test development
Test design
Technical manuals
Summary
Further reading
References
Chapter 4: Test tasks
Introduction
Discrete-point lexico-grammar items
Integrative measures of general language ability
Skill-based performance assessments
Summary
Further reading
References
Chapter 5: Local test delivery
Introduction
Digital devices
Production of traditional and digitally delivered tests: what does it take?
Opportunities for innovative task design
Test administration
Selection of test delivery format: what to consider
Summary
Further reading
References
Chapter 6: Scaling
Introduction
Why do we need a rating scale?
Different types of rating scales
Approaches to scale development and validation
Issues to consider during scale validation
Unique challenges and opportunities for scaling in local testing contexts
Summary
Further reading
References
Chapter 7: Raters and rater training
Introduction
The promise and perils of rater-mediated language assessment
Rater behavior: a catalog of rater effects
Why do we need rater training? Does it really work?
Best practice for rater training
Summary
Further reading
References
Chapter 8: Data collection, management, and score reporting
Introduction
Data flow
Data storage
Data management
Data uses
Summary
Further reading
References
Chapter 9: Reflections
Introduction
Some reflections on the revision of the TOEPAS
Some reflections on the EPT scale revision process
Some reflections on the development of the OEPT
Conclusions
References
Appendix A
Index
