网络多媒体外语教学评估体系的建设与思考

随着全球化和技术革新的迅猛发展,外语教学领域也随之发生变化。在网络多媒体外语教学中,如何建立和实施行之有效的网络外语教学评估体系至关重要。笔者认为网络多媒体外语教学的评估体系应是以形成性评估为主,形成性评估与终结性评估相结合的复合模式,并对此进行了实证研究。定性和定量的数据表明评估体系的建设和探索对于保证网络外语教学效果是十分必要的,由此所引发的思考,也值得进一步的分析和探索。     

Triangulation of language assessment modes: learning benefits and socio-cognitive prospects

An experimental design was adopted in the present study to cross-compare the effect of two formative assessments, namely peer assessment (PA) and teacher assessment (TA), with summative assessment (SA) on the improvement of language learners’ writing skill and self-efficacy. Writing excellence was operationalized by structural (grammar), lexical (word choice), and discoursal (cohesion and coherence) well-formedness. Furthermore, focused group interview was run to elicit the learners' attitudes and preferences toward type of assessment. Three cohorts of proficiency-matched language learners sat for a semester-long experimentation (20 sessions × 90 min = 30 h) and three testing sessions. The results revealed that PA group significantly improved in the writing skill, but TA and SA groups did not. Self-efficacy was not enhanced in any of the assessment groups under study. The interviews and follow-up member checkings indicated that the pupils did not have positive attitudes toward PA and preferred TA. Among the sources of this disfavor, they referred to misunderstanding, lack of knowledge or attention, tiredness, poor handwriting of the assesse, shyness, friendship bias, and even feeling not qualified enough to judge their peers’ tasks. Overall, then, the study reported a mismatch between the students’ actual performance and attitudinal beliefs under different assessment conditions, implying that (a) Iranian students are more inclined toward teacher-dominated pedagogies and (b) triangulation of assessment modes provides more reliable optimal results.     

The assessment of learning

ABSTRACT

Opposition to university fees is often framed as a defence of higher education as a ‘right’ rather than a ‘privilege’. However, the basis and nature of this right is unclear. This article presents a conceptual exploration of the question, drawing on an initial analysis of international law. An argument is put forward for a right to higher education seen as one of a number of possible forms of post-school education, restricted only by a requirement for a minimum level of academic preparation.     

影响外语学习的因素

学习外语一直被许多人当成是一件头痛的事情。本文对影响外语学习的因素作了分析，以帮助在学习外语时遇到困难的人顺利解决学习障碍。     

The effects of a game-enhanced learning intervention on foreign language learning

Educational technology research and development - The rich multimedia-enhanced language content offered by modern commercial off-the-shelf games and students’ interest in playing such games...     

The contribution of inquiry to second language learning

Abstract

In this article the authors raise their concern about the way in which students with different levels of competence in the language of instruction (English in this case) acquire a second language. They also address the issue of the types of conditions which are necessary in order for dialogic interaction to be effective in the classroom when these students are acquiring a second language

In the first section, a review of the different theories on language learning is carried out, which helps to provide a response to the questions which have been raised. In the second section, the need to create opportunities to use the second language in real and meaningful situations is also raised, based on the results of three case studies. Learning through dialogue is presented as being a much more effective approach to teaching and learning a second language than traditional approaches, which were based on the teacher merely providing instruction and subsequently developing the information.     

The contributions of social learning to language acquisition

Psycholinguists have often lost sight of the functions of language in their search for structural regularities. This paper focuses on three social learning variables whose roles in language development have often been discounted. Feedback or reinforcement has been said to be unrelated to grammatical development since parents tend to reinforce the truth instead of the grammar of their children's utterances. But evidence is presented showing that feedback for the child's comprehension responses can affect production of grammatical forms. Modeling or imitation has been said to be unimportant in grammatical development because most children's utterances are novel and because the frequency of imitation appears unrelated to the rate of language growth. But evidence is presented showing how many utterances can be both imitative and novel and showing that the role of these selective imitations has not been assessed properly in many studies. Contextual constraints on language have been considered unimportant in many psycholinguistic theories. But evidence is presented showing that communicative competence is related critically to the ability to adjust utterances to contextual constraints and that the language of the young child is deficient in this regard. The educational advantages of a functional analysis of language are discussed.     

论语言环境与外语学习

学习者所处语言环境对外语学习效果有着重要的影响,中国学生虽然从小学到大学接近十年一直不间断学习外语,但收效并不明显,主要是学生缺乏很好的语言环境。本文主要从分析学生外语学习中的语言环境因素,并将这一原理应用于外语学习与教学当中,以提高学生外语学习效率。     

浅谈阅读对于小学生语文学习的重要性

阅读是小学生语文学习课程中最重要的环节之一,也是学生理解和掌握新知识的基础,笔者就阅读在小学生语文学习中的重要性结合工作谈谈自己的认识。     

合作学习模式下形成性评估在英语专业教学中的探索

有效评估对促进外语教学至关重要。结合问卷调查和个案研究,本研究旨在探讨如何在合作学习模式下将形成性评估应用于英语专业教学中。结果表明,形成性评估有利于端正学生学习态度,改进学习策略和提高学习效果;合作学习模式有助于促进形成性评估的实施,对完善评估方式有重要意义。     

学习策略在外语学习中的作用

文章运用定量研究的方法，调查了来自宁夏四所高校非英语专业学生的学习策略使用情瓦和学习策略与学习成绩的相关关系，并就此提出了一些教学措施与建议。     

Two-stage screening for math problem-solving difficulty using dynamic assessment of algebraic learning

The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of a dynamic assessment (DA) of algebraic learning in predicting third graders' development of mathematics word-problem difficulty. In the fall, 122 third-grade students were assessed on a test of math word-problem skill and DA of algebraic learning. In the spring, they were assessed on word-problem performance. Logistic regression was conducted to contrast two models. One relied exclusively on the fall test of math word-problem skill to predict word-problem difficulty on the spring outcome (less than the 25th percentile). The second model relied on a combination of the fall test of math word-problem skill and the fall DA to predict the same outcome. Holding sensitivity at 87.5%, the universal screener alone resulted in a high proportion of false positives, which was practically reduced when DA was included in the prediction model. Findings are discussed in terms of a two-stage process for screening students within a responsiveness-to-intervention prevention model.