CONCERNS WITH COMPUTERIZED ADAPTIVE ORAL PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT

A Commentary on "Comparing Examinee Attitudes Toward Computer-Assisted and Other Oral
Proficient Assessments" by Dorry Kenyon and Valerie Malabonga
John M. Norris
University of Hawai`i at Manoa

Language Learning & Technology May 2001, Vol. 5, Num. 2
http://llt.msu.edu/vol5num2/norris/default.html
pp. 99-105

Summary

The relevant advantages given by technology to our society not only in educational instruction but also in assessment show us how to improve our teaching. In this article by John Norris was developed some concerns about the computarized adaptive oral proficiency assessment and the evaluation of CBTs, Computer-Based Tests like SOPI and COPI being this last one the best evaluated according to Norris who considered important the followings characteristics:
COPI gives to the CBTs technical innovations like the change of audio formats to digital one that let us work on instant repetitions, listening parts, particular segments or the whole of a track.
It lets to examinees control their time used in planning and responding tasks to improve their oral performance.
COPI is more efficient on administration and scores because it introduces technology to catch affectiveness in the response time according to the topic .
It uses an algorithm for the selection of the test items.
Lets the examenee choose his/her level for tasks

Although it is very difficult to score speaking performances through computer-based tests because it is not clear if they do what teachers want to assess, we have to consider the improvements that they give us and focus on our specific purposes and under what circunstances we should use them to fulfil our pedagogycal expectations.


Comments

Students need to develop their skills through technology and that situation implies a better teachers preparation, because of that its is important to learn about these technological advantages that make us easier to obtain our aims. Speaking tests usually are hard to evaluate because there is not enough time to all our students, affectiveness can change the results and teachers coud be subjective according to their feelings.
Finally, teachers need to make a good use of technology because our education demands a change in our culture because of globalization in order to get a better society.