Chapelle, Carol A. (2006). Assessing Language through Computer Technology (Cambridge Language
Assessment). Cambridge University Press.
No offense to the authors, but if you need something to
help you get to sleep at night, read this book!
The contents were quite dry with a focus on the research of
computer-assisted language testing (CALT), which is scant (or at least was at
the time this book was published, 2006).
Regardless, the book provides an overview of some of the
pressing topics and issues in CALT, with a call for more research. Here are the main takeaways:
Chapter
1: The Technology Thread
High-stakes computer based language tests (not typically
used in the US, expect perhaps for TOEFL?) may disadvantage learners; however,
the benefits of computer-based placement and diagnostic assessments are the
opportunity for response analysis, feedback, and recordkeeping, all of which
are not as feasible with traditional paper and pencil assessments
Evaluative tools for computer-based tests (not language
testing specific) may not apply spoken language (i.e., listening and speaking
assessments)
With computer-based tests, new methods:
- Computer-adaptive tests
- Inclusion of multimedia (linguistic and visual input)
- Situational authenticity: features of context (setting, participants, content, tone, genre) – example – video of a college lecture = academic context
- Interactional authenticity: interaction between test taker’s language knowledge and communicative task
- Automatic response analysis
Some issues: clarifying test constructs (e.g., in-test
tools also “test” examinee’s strategic use of these options); scoring (test
developer needs to make precise decisions about correctness of the many
potential answers that are to be provided – like a scoring rubric for each
question – when the computer scores the test items)
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