Digital language assessment: the good, the bad and the yet to be decided

Digital language assessment: the good, the bad and the yet to be decided

Dr Emma Bruce and Heléna Stakounis

Date: Wednesday 29th March 2023

Time: 16.00 - 17.15 pm GMT (doors open 16.00; talk starts 16.10)

Venue: This is a free online event.

Register here: https://forms.gle/XxBSYf4hBdK9ADoB9 

Assessment is an everyday part of teaching and learning language and it is increasingly the case that assessments are presented in a digital format. This might mean the assessments are created using digital tools, or accessed online via computers, tablets or mobile phones. Whether the assessment is for a small-scale weekly classroom assessment or a larger-scale annual evaluation, language teachers will now need some form of digital assessment literacy. In addition, with the advent of AI and all the talk around Chat GPT, academic integrity is a huge concern when it comes to digital language assessment. Can we work with such tools as opposed to battling against them? How can we ensure validity when transforming paper tests into digital tests? And do we have the necessary skills to create digital assessments? This presentation will draw on research from the UK EAP field, TESOL and projects related to international English language testing to discuss what is good and bad about digital language assessment and to pose more questions about what is yet to be decided.

Bio:

Dr Emma Bruce is a member of the Assessment Research Group at the British Council and

her specific focus is on research and validation of IELTS. Emma obtained her PhD from

CRELLA having researched the impact of time allowances in source-based writing

assessment in the EAP context. Emma has over 25 years of experience working in the tertiary

sector in the UK and overseas, initially as a teacher, and later as an EAP testing and

assessment specialist.

emma.bruce@britishcouncil.org

Heléna Stakounis is a Teaching Fellow in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at the University

of Durham. Previously EAP Co-ordinator at Lancaster University and Associate Lecturer at

the University of Salford, Heléna founded her own British Council accredited private

language school and has experience working in assessment for Cambridge International

Examinations, British Council, Pearson, and NCUK. She is currently a final year PhD student

investigating the role of language in the internationalised student experience.

Helenastakounis@Gmail.com