EXPLORING DIALANG'S DIAGNOSTIC FEEDBACK
IN ONLINE L2 DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT
EXPLORING DIALANG'S DIAGNOSTIC FEEDBACK
IN ONLINE L2 DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT
Author(s): Saman EbadiSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Foreign languages learning
Published by: IATEFL Poland Computer Special Interest Group and The University of Nicosia
Keywords: dynamic assessment; mediation; SCMC; ZPD; DIALANG
Summary/Abstract: Dynamic assessment (DA) as an alternative to psychometric-based testing focuses on the collaborative dialogue between the learners and the mediator to move the learners from their current capabilities. This study represents a web-based qualitative inquiry in online DA which aims at addressing the inadequacy of the diagnostic feedback of the web-based DIALANG test in reflecting learners’ potentials for future development. Applying microgenetic analysis as the general framework for data analysis, this study intended to uncover two university students’ zone of proximal development (ZPD) of English grammar structures through mediation in a synchronous computer mediated communication (SCMC) context. The findings of this study revealed the shortcomings of DIALANG test results and diagnostic feedback, which are not attuned to the learners' ZPD, and the effectiveness of online DA mediation, which can highlight the learners' microgenetic developmental trajectory to obtain a richer and more accurate understanding of the learners’ potential level of future development.
Journal: Teaching English with Technology
- Issue Year: 16/2016
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 41-58
- Page Count: 18
- Language: English