Course Detail

 IE 531/LIN 551/TESL 531 Assessment of Second Language Acquisition

 IE 531/LIN 551/TESL 531 IS Sec 1, University of Mississippi
[See UM Catalog for Description]

3 credit hours

Instructor Information:

Instructor name:
Michael C. Raines, Ph.D.
Instructional Assistant Professor of TESL & IEP

Instructor Information:
Michael Raines currently teaches in the TESOL Program in The Department of Modern Languages and also in the Intensive English Program. Originally from Tupelo, MS, Michael has been teaching ESL for a long time.

He first studied and taught in Mexico City for a number of years, and after that experience, returned to the United States to finish his Ph.D. in TESOL at Ole Miss. After finishing his degree, he taught at the University of Alabama for several years, where he was director of two programs: ESL and Foreign Language Education, and also managed a federal grant.

He has taught additional intensive TESL classes overseas. After his tenure at the University of Alabama, Michael returned to Ole Miss to teach Spanish and ESL for several years. In the Fall 2010 semester, he began teaching in the TESOL and IEP programs and has also taught a number of courses online for Modern Languages.

Contact Information:

E-mail: mcraines@olemiss.edu
Office phone: 915-1492

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the Email Your Instructor link in the Lessons or Content page. NOTE: Whenever sending email, please be sure to indicate your course title and number in the subject line. You can expect a response within 72 hours, although it may be longer on weekends. Many instructors reply within 24 hours.

For lesson or test administration issues, please contact the iStudy department:

Course Description

This course explores the theories and practices of language assessment and testing.  Different contexts, purposes and types of assessment will be considered.

Textbook Information:

Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course.

Course Objectives:

Objectives include (but are not limited to):

1. Understand language assessment myths, and testing theory and practice.
2. Examine, present and evaluate classroom assessment activities.
3. Create various assessment tools.

Course Outline:

This course consists of 15 instructional modules (or lessons) and 2 proctored exams.

You MUST take the syllabus quiz within 2 weeks of enrolling or you will be dropped from the course. NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

LESSON

Reading Assignments

Due for Grades

Pacing Guide
to complete the course in a semester

Syllabus

You MUST take the syllabus quiz within 2 weeks of enrolling or you will be dropped from the course. NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Syllabus Quiz

 Week 1

1

Lesson 1: Writing your Language Assessment Philosophy

Language Assessment Philosophy 1st DRAFT

 Week 1

2

Lesson 2: What is Assessment?

Lesson assignment

 Week 2

3

Lesson 3: Which Assessment Should We Use?

Lesson assignment

 Week 3

4

Lesson 4:  Placement/Needs Analysis/Diagnostics

Lesson assignment

 Week 4

5

Lesson 5: Creating Assessments

Lesson assignment

 Week 5

6

Lesson 6: Activity 1: "A, B, C, or D or All of the Above"

Activity 1: Multiple choice activity

 Week 6

7

Lesson 7: Activity 2: "Clozing Just in Time"

Activity 2: Cloze Test activity

 Week 7

8

MID-COURSE EXAM: Proctored exam that covers Lessons 1-7. Graduate students will see an additional exam section they must complete.

To be scheduled and completed before proceeding

 Week 8

MIDPOINT OF COURSE

If you are a semester student, you must reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information.
If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the lesson has been submitted.

All lesson assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course

The exact date semester students are required to reach the midpoint is specified in your information.

9

Lesson 9: Assessing Skills

Lesson assignment

 Week 9

10

Lesson 10: Validity/Reliability/Practicality/Washback

Lesson assignment

 Week 10

11

Lesson 11: Activity 3: "Holistic Alternatives"

Activity 3: Alternative Assessment activity

 Week 11

12

Lesson 12: Ethics

Lesson assignment

 Week 12

13

Lesson 13: Feedback & Motivation

Lesson assignment

 Week 13

14

Lesson 14: Activity 4: "Reflections of Another Mindset"

Activity 4: Language Assessment Philosophy FINAL DRAFT

 Week 14

15

FINAL EXAM:  Comprehensive proctored exam. Graduate students will see an additional exam section they must complete.

To be scheduled and completed to finalize credit

 Week 15

Grading:

Grading Scale:
A (100-90)
B (89-80)
C (79-70)
D (69-60)
F (59-0)

FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE.

You must submit the lessons required to take the course exam(s). Lessons required but not submitted will receive a grade of zero. For the final exam, all coursework must be submitted and graded.