Background: Analyzing student short-answer written justifications to conceptually challenging questions has proven helpful to understand student thinking and improve conceptual understanding. However, qualitative analyses are limited by the burden of analyzing large amounts of text. Purpose: We apply dense and sparse Large Language Models (LLMs)…

Competence-based test development (CbTD) is a novel method for constructing tests that are as informative as possible about the competence state (the set of skills an individual masters) underlying the item responses. If desired, the tests can also be minimal, meaning that no item can be eliminated without reducing their informativeness. To…

On the grounds that assessment stands for a mirror of teaching and learning practices, its value cannot be ignored in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) programmes as all those involved in foreign language teaching in non-native settings need constant feedback about the effectiveness of their ventures. Assessment of young learners of…

The Next Generation Science Standards propose a multidimensional model of science learning, comprised of Core Disciplinary Ideas, Science and Engineering Practices, and Crosscutting Concepts (NGSS Lead States, 2013). Accordingly, there is a need for student assessment aligned with the new standards. Creating assessments that validly and reliably…