Meeting 09 • 5 February 2008 • Tuesday

Version:
2/6/08

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) 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

(20) Major project update: 1) Arranging visits to Atkinson; 2) IELP; 3) individual ideas; 4) Can we draft rubrics for the project? (Project specifications are on the outline for meeting #7 29 January [slightly modified from that meeting, to specify the narration/ description])

(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) Teaching and assessing writing: ACTFL Writing Proficiency Guidelines; the "schizophrenia" of conventional FL workbook-type exercises; what goes on in TESL; 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) Assignment 4: Create a scoring guide for a language learning activity (due Thursday, 14 February - EVERYONE: This deadline is tentative and depends on a Kuehlhorn-Fischer consultation and having a scoring guide to score the assignment to create a scoring guide!)

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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)

••TBA

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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