Saturday, 23 July 2016

Technology in Language Testing

Technology-based learning tasks are fine, but not developing assessment tasks through technology. It is seen as a problematic area, while being assessed as having a lot of promises. There is a lot of variety in presenting text and media to examinees. But the question is whether we can adapt to individual levels during test taking.

Technology-enabled language assessment can give responses, evaluation, and feedback individually in no time. But some question the validity of technology in tests. How different would it be from traditional tests? Since every aspect of such tests require technical proficiency of the learner, technology is not invisible in such tests. Some ask whether it is a test of technology awareness/proficiency or that of language.

But technology is here with us, and is spreading even to the remotest areas of the Earth. So saying that it is a deviant phenomenon is not the best response to technology in language testing. Learners need to be prepared for such tests. Familiarity needs to be built. TOEFL has multiple choice questions, highlighting, etc. Therefore, TOEFL examinees must be prepared for it by going through practice sessions where they learn how to use computers in answering questions.

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