Spotlight- Classroom-based assessment in Vietnam: Teacher Attitudes, Practices and Needs

Description

This Spotlight Event will introduce a research project, due to start in January 2022, which is investigating classroom-based assessment. This is a joint project between the University of Huddersfield (UK) and the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University Hanoi (VN). This project is situated within the field of Language Assessment Literacy (LAL) research. Fulcher (2012: 125) proposes the following definition of LAL:
The knowledge, skills and abilities required to design, develop, maintain, or evaluate, large-scale standardized and/or classroom-based tests, familiarity with test processes, and awareness of principles and concepts that guide and underpin practice, including ethics and codes of practice.
The research will be informed by a social constructivist model of learning and meaning-making: “… with the language classroom representing the community of practice. It focuses on the sociocultural context in relation to actual assessment literacy practices in the language classroom, since an investigation into what is happening in classes may be of little value without exploring why it is happening.” (Berry, Sheehan, and Munro, 2017:203)
The research methodology will be presented. A multi-method approach to data collection will be adopted to understand the current assessment landscape in Viet Nam and point to any gaps in provision and consider what can be done to fill those gaps. Questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, Interviews and Evaluation of Assessment Materials will be among the data collection methods used.
Following discussion of the research methodology the project outputs will be discussed. The data will inform an online toolkit which will provide assessment and testing resources and recommendations for best practice. This will be available in Vietnamese and English. The second output is an online Community of Practice hosted by the ULIS and supported by the University of Huddersfield to support the growth of expertise in assessment.
The presentation concludes by outlining ways of getting involved in the project and the Policy Dialogue which will be held in 2023.
By gaining a thorough understanding of the current situation, recommendations for practice can be made which respond to the needs, attitudes, and practices of teachers in Viet Nam.

Period	11 Dec 2021
Event title	New Directions East Asia 2021: Fairer Greener Stronger The Future of Language Assessment
Event type	Conference
Location	Singapore, SingaporeShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International