EDF5643 · Language assessment and testing

Overview

This unit examines contemporary theories and practices in language assessment and testing. It explores innovative approaches to assessment design and validation, recent advancements in language testing technologies including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and the pedagogical implications of diverse assessment practices. Particular emphasis is placed on the ethical and social dimensions of language test use, with a focus on fairness, equity, and the broader consequences of assessment for learners and institutions. You will engage with a range of assessment purposes and develop a principled framework for critically evaluating assessment tools and practices. Through applied tasks, you will gain practical experience in designing, trialling and analysing a variety of assessment instruments, including authentic, integrated and digitally mediated tasks that are appropriate to your professional contexts.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. analyse the diverse purposes, contexts and implications of language assessment
2. critically evaluate key principles of language assessment, with particular attention to fairness, equity and the social consequences of testing
3. engage critically with current debates, innovations and research developments in language assessment, including those involving digital tools and AI
4. design, trial and justify assessment tasks that reflect theoretical knowledge and are appropriate to specific pedagogical and professional contexts.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: • a total of 24 hours of scheduled learning. These will typically include 18-24 hours of on-campus regular directed learning activities, with any remaining hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities and self-directed/independent study OR • a total of 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^ ^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.