Meeting 08 • 31 January 2008 • Thursday

Version:
2/4/08

Today

(X) = anticipated time in minutes
Key to notes added AFTER the class meetsL
√ = topic / activity that was adequately dealt with during the class
+ = topic needs more attention & will be resumed at next / subsequent meeting(s)
- = a topic / activity that was proposed but not carried out
Struckthrough text like this = a topic / activity that was proposed but not included is not going to be taken up after all
Italic text like this = comments after the meeting

Main Topic(s): Rubrics & Scoring Guides (continued); assessing writing

(20) Some language-related rubrics / scoring guides (PSU First-Year German): a personalized project (introduce family); the first in-take assignment (get in touch with instructor and use some German); why I took Sara's advice about the SG for Assignment 1 (on-time; native/non-native English)

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(20) Synthesis: rubrics and the article about math in Washington state that was the basis of Assignment 1 (newspaper article reflection). First, we debrief the article and assignment: 1) with partner, summarize your reflections (recollection of test experience, what you learned about it from reading the article, application of the article and your testing experience to language learning / teaching / testing); 2) group discussion of the article itself - many different people found (or read into the article) many different things about math curriculum and assessment in Washington state; 3) group discussion about two particularly problematic issues: "standardized test" and "teaching to the test"; now the SG/rubric for the reflection

(10) Break: Go get your coffee or your snack, but bring it back. We'll start promptly after 10 minutes, with or without you!

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(20) Examples of "high-stakes" use of rubrics: Oregon University System standards and descriptors for mathematics; Portland Public Schools World Languages Standards (2006) - wonder how these compare to the new Washington math standards and assessment? (Briefly, since the topic will return as a main focus in a couple of weeks.)

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(20) A little about teaching and assessing writing: ACTFL Writing Proficiency Guidelines; what goes on in TESL (HELP!); what's going on at PSU in the writing program / English department; an article about responding to student writing (0009, Barnett).

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(10) More about the FL and AL "cultures": the background and professional pursuits of the course instructors (here Fischer: overview • more about projects & publications)


Upcoming class meetings (5 February 2008, Tuesday)

Continuation of 31 January, and also testing/ teaching writing

Upcoming assignment(s)

This section offers a PREVIEW, not activated assignments. Assignments are made, with announcement of their deadlines, both in class and on the "schedule" page.

Announcements

Sara's MA thesis defense will be held in Room 109 of East Hall, on Wednesday, 6 February, from 1-3pm. She has graciously invited our class to observe. A thesis defense is yet another kind of assessment. If you even think you are going for an advanced degree, you might as well learn about this earlier rather than later.

Misc.

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