Oxford University Press / Oxford English Testing presentation, given at TESOL 2010 in Boston by Jenefer Johnson.

1. How can we improve student autonomy? Formative and summative assessment in exam classes Jenefer Johnson Oxford University Press [email_address] Booth 708-709

3. Learner Autonomy in Exam Situations: What can we do? teacher students past experiences materials location assessment emotions Activities which support… … but which also support language learning.

4. Learner Autonomy Create awareness and ownership of the learning process Provide strategies and lessons for gaining control and improving confidence

5. Learner Autonomy: Our own materials Diary exercise How does it support learner autonomy? Raises awareness that learning is socially constructed Engages learner with his/her own learning environment Turns learning habits into choices

6. Learner Autonomy: Our own materials Feelings about English/exams poster How does it support learner autonomy? Raises awareness that learning is an emotional process Allows learner to talk about language Respects learner’s vulnerabilities

7. Assessment: the cake analogy assessment designed to give feedback on levels of performance and/or student knowledge … assessment designed to measure levels of achievement at a certain time. … and to give feedback on how it might be improved. formative summative

8. The exam course EVERYONE GOES ON A BREAK! (We hope…) A course of study Class learns exam preparation strategies Take a placement test Enroll Get placed into a class Use a textbook Teacher sets homework, grades homework & fills in gradebook Take English exams Students continue to study at school & at home Teacher gives practice tests (or course tests), grades tests & fills in gradebook

9. The problem with exams Exams tend to induce flock/shepherd behaviors Standardized Exams are innately OUT OF OUR CONTROL! Task completion & feedback are fractured  Administrative challenges can be all-encompassing

11. Online PRACTICE Tests Oxford Online PLACEMENT Test Learning Management System What is the new ? formative summative ~

12. formative ( ->summative) summative ~ Oxford Online Placement Test TOEFL TOEIC IELTS KET, PET, FCE, CAE

14. Teacher’s Homepage

17. How the placement tests work 1st item CORRECT 7th item CORRECT 5th item CORRECT 6th item INCORRECT 4th item INCORRECT 8th item CORRECT 3rd item CORRECT 2nd item CORRECT Test homes in on student’s ability and can then adapt to provide items targeted for that person – final test is shorter but still accurate Easier items ITEM BANK Harder items

18. Formative Assessment: Online Practice Tests How do they support learner autonomy? Through a variety of on-screen feedback types Through practice and test modes Through support of a variety of learning styles

21. On-screen tips teach autonomous strategies

22. Instant, Constructive Feedback Opportunity to Improve

23. Examples of how criteria can be met

24. Understanding evaluation criteria & Seeing models of good language

25. Dictionary Look-up