Event

Testing and Evaluation: Alternative means and methods

Saturday, April 16th, 2011, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Speaker: Mike Guest

Most Japanese school administrations expect their students to be tested. But what administrations regard as 'testing' are Center Shiken-like exams in which students answer discrete-point questions and receive a pass/fail grade. Teachers should not blindly accept this approach to assessment, when L2 testing allows for much more. In this workshop, participants will learn about and further discuss the theory/practice of matching tests to course content and cognitive skills, as well as alternate assessment models.

Mike Guest is Associate Professor of English at the University of Miyazaki. He also writes a regular column on EFL matters in the Daily Yomiuri newspaper as well as a blog on the ELTNews website. He has been interested in testing, evaluation, and assessment ever since he noticed that many of his students didn't study much until the 'final test' was supposed to come about, a test which never materialized (much too to the surprise of the administrators). Since then he has researched, written both academic and popular articles, and has presented on several aspects of testing, from the Center Shiken to how students respond to alternative methods of testing.

Organization: Gifu Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Gifu JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1,000 yen

Venue: Gifu JR Station, Heartful Square 2F (East Wing)

Location: Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

Contact Gifu JALT