Just as spring is a new beginning, we hope to bring fresh ideas to help teachers keep learning and keep teaching with our Pearson English Spring Days: Assessment Sessions.
Pearson English Spring Days is an online learning event taking place from 4th – 15th May, 2020.
If you are interested in assessment, you’ll be able to learn from a number of leading ELT experts including Bill Bonk, Joanne Sale, David Booth and Jenny Liontou.
They’ll offer professional development advice and lots of practical classroom tips on areas such as formative assessment for young learners, artificial intelligence and PTE General.
What sessions are available?
Below you will discover the different sessions we have available and some more information about each talk.
Please note all times are displayed in BST (British Summer Time). Click here to convert to your time zone.
How to help learners chart their own course towards English proficiency with Bill Bonk
What to expect?
Many learners seek opportunities outside the classroom to practice and improve their skills. The methods they choose vary from more traditional (studying vocabulary, reading) to more innovative (videos, interacting through video calls or chat, etc). However these activities can occur without structure and without learners’ awareness of what they might get out of them. Students can always use guidance for how to coordinate these activities and how to use them best, given their proficiency level.
In this webinar, Bill Bonk will take a look at how teachers can leverage these student-driven activities as well as use tools like the GSE Teacher Toolkit to help students chart their own course towards English proficiency, based on their own needs and current level.
When?
Session 1: Wednesday 6th May at 5:00 PM (BST)
Session 2: Tuesday 12th May at 5:00 PM (BST)
How to help your students meet their potential in their PTE General exam with Joanne Sale
What to expect?
Getting ready for any 4-skills based test can be tricky and is not only about familiarity with the test, but also the skills needed for success.
Practice Test Plus PTE General is specifically designed to be used in a classroom setting, through online lessons or individually. It offers teachers and students a complete set of materials to help them get familiar with PTE General and improve skills for taking the test, however they choose to use it. Created specifically for each PTE General level, the series gives an overview of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for the paper-based test, as well as guidance, strategies and tips on approaching each task type.
In this webinar, we’ll talk about ideas for how to use the print, online and blended materials in both physical and virtual classrooms as well as some of the extra support resources available to teachers and students.
When?
Session 1: Friday 8th May at 9:30 AM (BST)
Session 2: Friday 8th May at 3:30 PM (BST)*
* This session will also be live streamed on our Facebook page!
How to better assess language skills using artificial intelligence with David Booth
What to expect?
Traditional assessments use a range of methods to assess language skills. Most tests are based on a specific skills task which presents a passage in a written or aural format and asks questions on that passage. Similarly, with speaking and writing, prompts are given to elicit language which is then scored by an examiner.
These methods are becoming more and more obsolete as technology changes the way language is tested.
One change is the introduction of integrated skills assessment. Integrating skills is commonplace in teaching methodology but strangely absent from testing. Technology, however, enables us to use more effectively the texts and questions we present to test takers. At the same time the automated scoring of speaking and writing responses has become commonplace using artificial intelligence and scoring algorithms.
This webinar will look at the latest innovations in language testing and how these are implemented across a range of test-taking contexts.
When?
Session 1: Wednesday 13th May at 11:00 AM (BST)*
Session 2: Wednesday 13th May at 3.30 PM (BST)
* This session will also be live streamed on our Facebook page!
How digital assessment can help to direct and refine the teaching of young learners with Jenny Liontou
What to expect?
Research shows that while EFL teachers overwhelmingly recognise the value of assessment in the classroom, they sometimes feel uncertain when it comes to digital assessment tools, especially for younger learners.
This session will explain how to get the best out of digital assessment – examining the English Benchmark Young Learners test in particular as a tool that not only helps teachers to effectively monitor young students’ progress, but also gives powerful, targeted feedback and direction for the teaching programme itself.
When?
Session 1: Thursday 14th May at 12:30 PM (BST)
Session 2: Thursday 14th May at 5:00 PM (BST)
Opening and closing plenaries
Don’t forget to join us for our opening and closing plenaries:
Opening plenary with Jeremy Harmer
When?
Session 1: Monday 4th May at 9:30 AM (BST)*
Session 2: Monday 4th May at 17:00 PM (BST)
* This session will also be live streamed on our Facebook page!
Closing plenary with Dr. Ken Beatty
When?
Friday 15th May at 14:00 PM (BST)*
* This session will also be live streamed on our Facebook page!
How does it work?
Each session will last up to 60 minutes and will take place live on our webinar platform (selected sessions will also be streamed live on Facebook).
Each session is repeated twice for you to choose the best time for your convenience.
During the sessions, you will be able to ask questions and interact with other attendees. You can also follow along and join the conversation on Twitter, using the hashtag #PearsonSpringDays.
And to make things even better, all attendees will get a certificate and a virtual goodie bag!
How do I sign up?
It’s easy to join us for Pearson English Spring Days. Follow these three simple steps:
- Find the session you are interested in
- Choose the time and date when you’re available
- Follow the link to register
You will then receive a confirmation email containing the link for the webinar. Then you’ll be able to add the session to your digital calendars.
We hope you can join us for Pearson English Spring Days: Assessment Sessions.
Don’t forget to follow and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #PearsonSpringDays.
See you there!
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