ERIC Number: EJ822668
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Jan
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-7778
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Context-Based Online Diagnostic Test of Spanish
Larson, Jerry W.; Hendricks, Harold H.
CALICO Journal, v26 n2 p309-323 Jan 2009
Among the areas of emphasis in the language-teaching profession today we find considerable emphasis on (a) evaluation, (b) contextualization, and (c) technology. Although the greater emphasis in language assessment has been on global proficiency, there is also a need to examine specific points of students' language competence in order to help them improve the correctness of their communication. Considering these areas of emphasis, we undertook an effort to create a contextualized, online, diagnostic test of Spanish. This article explains the rationale behind the project and the procedures for accomplishing the task. We also describe a study conducted to determine the validity and practicality of the contextualized test. Results of the study indicate there appears to be little, if any, measurement advantage in using a contextualized test over a more traditional discrete-point test. (Contains 7 figures, 1 table and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Diagnostic Tests, Language Proficiency, Spanish, Computer Assisted Testing, Second Language Instruction, Educational Technology, Test Construction, Test Validity, Measurement
Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium. 214 Centennial Hall, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666. Tel: 512-245-1417; Fax: 512-245-9089; e-mail: info@calico.org: Web site: http://calico.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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