Norwich Institute for Language Education (NILE)

Testing, Evaluation and Assessment

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Availability

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Accommodation Homestay / Residence

Price Range £796.00 per week

Price Includes Course fees, accommodation, social programme

Beginners Not for beginners

Class Size 16 maximum

Course Length 2 weeks

Town / City & Region Norwich , Eastern England

Tuition Style Group

Tuition Hours Per Week 25.0

Ages 18 - 65

Course Type Teachers

Other Information

All of our teacher development courses are eligible for ERASMUS+ funding

Course Overview
Testing is frequently the key aspect of education, determining not just what is taught, but how. In such situations it is crucial that the systems in place are not just robust and reliable, but are relevant to the needs of the educational context, as identified by all the stakeholders, including students and staff. Where testing can be more flexible it is essential that those designing the systems are aware of the options, such that the best use can be made of this flexibility maximising student motivation and engagement.

Who is the course suitable for?
The course is aimed at ELT professionals who are interested in:

  • understanding the key principles underlying good practice in TEA
  • developing the ability to write good test items
  • designing and producing a variety of assessment instruments
  • providing leadership in their institution in the field of TEA
  • managing their own continuing professional development in TEA

 

Participants should have a minimum language level corresponding to B2/C1 on the Common European Framework.

What will the course include?
All course participants receive a pre-course questionnaire, which should be returned prior to the course. This is to ensure that the areas of most relevance to participants are covered. The main strands of the course will be carefully integrated but will include attention to some or all of the following, in line with participants’ needs and interests:

  • Exploring evaluation in ELT: key principles, different models for different objectives
  • Investigating Testing and assessment: review of formative and summative purposes
  • Looking at key issues in test design, construction and validation
  • Considering how to put principles into practice: producing good tests
  • Looking into how to make the testing and assessment coherent with the teaching
  • Looking into testing and assessing the full range of communicative skills; profiling
  • Considering basic statistical issues in testing: item analysis and test evaluation
  • Conducting a critical review of exams: what should we look for in an EFL exam
  • Exploring the testing and assessing young learners
  • Considering ‘authentic’ modes of assessment: self-, peer- and portfolio assessment
  • Exploring testing and the new technology: the role of computers, CATs and the Net

 

Time will be built into the course for reflection and for participants to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to their own professional contexts.
All NILE’s courses involve a significant element of English language improvement and/or development of language awareness.

How long is the course?
The 50-hour course provision includes intensive tuition by trainers who are experts in the field of testing, evaluation and assessment, as well as opportunities for reading and research and guest lectures from well-known figures in the field of ELT. Classes are held from Monday to Friday and take place as detailed in the course-specific timetable but always within the hours 0915 – 1715.

What approach is used?

  • Classes will be practical and ‘hands-on’, but with reference to relevant theory.
  • Courses are participant-centred involving tasks providing memorable learning contexts.
  • Tasks will be used to illustrate the key course objectives through procedure and content.
  • The approach includes opportunities for exploring key and contemporary issues

 

Facilities and resources
NILE course participants have free access to an extensive ELT library and a modern suite of computers with a broadband Internet link. The NILE course venues have a wireless (Wi-Fi) environment. Each course has a Moodle online learning environment where course materials and views of course participants can be shared digitally. This is kept active for at least six months beyond the course so you can keep in touch with your fellow course participants.

« Back to School Enquire about this Course Visit School Website »

« Back to School Enquire about this Course Visit School Website »