EFL TEACHERS’ STRATEGIES FOR FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY THROUGH ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION | Cường | TNU Journal of Science and Technology

EFL TEACHERS’ STRATEGIES FOR FOSTERING INCLUSIVITY THROUGH ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION

About this article

Received: 27/05/24                Revised: 08/08/24                Published: 08/08/24

Authors

1. Pham Huy Cuong Email to author, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance
2. Ngo Nguyen Thien Duyen, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance
3. Nguyen Dinh Tuan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance

Abstract


This qualitative study delves into EFL teachers’ strategies for promoting inclusivity in language assessment through their utilization of alternative approaches to accounting for students’ diverse sociocultural backgrounds, language learning experiences, and levels of proficiency. Drawing on data from a narrative frame and semi-structured interviews, the research engaged 10 English teachers from a private university in Vietnam. These participants have employed various forms of AA in their teaching. The findings highlight the transformative potential of AA in catering to individual differences among students and empowering them with opportunities for personalized and holistic learning experiences. The teachers’ strategies for inclusivity were implicated in their design of AA, incorporation of culturally relevant content, and provision of additional support. Moreover, the study underscores the importance of creating a supportive classroom environment that values diversity and collaboration. The insights gleaned from this research contribute to the ongoing discourse on enhancing inclusivity in assessment practices within the context of Vietnamese higher education.

Keywords


Inclusivity; Foreign language education; Alternative assessment; Higher education; Teachers’ strategies

Full Text:

PDF

References


[1] A. Coombs, C. DeLuca, D. LaPointe-McEwan, and A. Chalas, “Changing approaches to classroom assessment: An empirical study across teacher career stages,” Teaching and Teacher Education, vol. 71, pp. 134-144, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2017.12.010.

[2] D. Boud and N. Falchikov, Rethinking Assessment in Higher Education. Routledge, 2007.

[3] S. S. Çimen, “Exploring EFL assessment in Turkey: Curriculum and teacher practices,” International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 531-550, 2022.

[4] I. Tosuncuoglu, “Importance of Assessment in ELT,” Journal of Education and Training Studies, vol. 6, no. 9, p. 163, Aug. 2018, doi: 10.11114/jets.v6i9.3443.

[5] D. Boud, P. Dawson, M. Bearman, S. Bennett, G. Joughin, and E. Molloy, “Reframing assessment research: through a practice perspective,” Studies in Higher Education, vol. 43, no. 7, pp. 1107-1118, Jul. 2016, doi: 10.1080/03075079.2016.1202913.

[6] J. McArthur, “Assessment for social justice: the role of assessment in achieving social justice,” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, vol. 41, no. 7, pp. 967-981, Jun. 2015, doi: 10.1080/02602938.2015.1053429.

[7] J. Tai et al., “How are examinations inclusive for students with disabilities in higher education? A sociomaterial analysis,” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 390-402, May 2022, doi: 10.1080/02602938.2022.2077910.

[8] S. Marginson, “The worldwide trend to high participation higher education: dynamics of social stratification in inclusive systems,” Higher Education, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 413-434, Jun. 2016, doi: 10.1007/s10734-016-0016-x.

[9] J. H. Nieminen, “Assessment for Inclusion: rethinking inclusive assessment in higher education,” Teaching in Higher Education, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 841-859, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1080/13562517.2021.2021395.

[10] G. Lawrie et al., “Moving towards inclusive learning and teaching: A synthesis of recent literature,” Teaching and Learning Inquiry, vol. 5, no. 1, Mar. 2017, doi: 10.20343/teachlearninqu.5.1.3.

[11] M. S. S. Moqbel, “Using Alternative Assessment to Assess Undergraduate EFL Students at Yemeni Universities: Challenges from the Perspectives of Faculty,” ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 440-458, Sep. 2020, doi: 10.34050/elsjish.v3i3.11077.

[12] C. K. S. Singh, M. M. Muhammad, N. A. Mostafa, M. M. Yunus, N. Noordin, and R. Darm, “Exploring ESL teachers’ alternative assessment strategies and practices in the classroom,” Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 411-426, 2022, doi: 10.52462/jlls.191.

[13] D. Murchan and G. Shiel, Understanding and Applying Assessment in Education. SAGE, 2017.

[14] K. Bain, “Inclusive assessment in higher education: what does the literature tells us on how to define and design inclusive assessments?” Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, no. 27, Apr. 2023, doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi27.1014.

[15] R. Bourke, “Normalising Alternative Assessment Approaches for Inclusion,” in Assessment for Inclusion in Higher Education, 1st ed., Routledge, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003293101-21/normalising-alternative-assessment-approaches-inclusion-roseanna-bourke. [Accessed April 04, 2024].

[16] J. Hoffman, P. Blessinger, and M. Makhanya, Strategies for Fostering Inclusive Classrooms in Higher Education. Emerald Group Publishing, 2019.

[17] T. McConlogue, “Assessment and Feedback in Higher Education: A Guide for Teachers,” UCL Press, 2020.

[18] P. Gravestock, “Developing an inclusive curriculum: a guide for lecturers,” Cheltenham:
Geography Discipline Network, 2006. [Online]. Available: http://resources.glos.ac.uk/gdn/icp/dlecture.pdf. [Accessed April 04, 2024].

[19] A. Meyer, D. H. Rose, and D. Gordon, Universal Design for Learning. CAST Professional Publishing, 2014.

[20] F. Quansah, İ. Amoako, and F. Ankomah, “Teachers’ Test Construction Skills in Senior High Schools in Ghana: Document Analysis,” International Journal of Assessment Tools in Education, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1-8, Mar. 2019, doi: 10.21449/ijate.481164.

[21] C. A. Tomlinson, How to Differentiate Instruction in Academically Diverse Classrooms. ASCD, 2017.

[22] V. L. Nguyen, "Vietnamese EFL Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices of Alternative Assessment in Teaching English at Secondary School," Asian EFL Journal, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 31-57, 2020.

[23] W. Tian, H. D. Le, and N. T. Nguyen, “Vietnamese university EFL teachers’ practices and literacy in classroom assessment: A sociocultural perspective,” System, vol. 116, Aug. 2023, Art. no. 103066, doi: 10.1016/j.system.2023.103066.

[24] M. C. Tran and T. H. G. Nguyen, "Applying Portfolio Assessment in Advanced Writing Courses for English Majors at Quy Nhon University - Promises and A Proposed Model," Science Journal of Quy Nh University, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 135-141, 2018.

[25] C. H. Pham, “General English programs in tertiary education in Vietnam,” Language Related Research, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 169-196, 2022, doi: 10.52547/LRR.13.5.4.

[26] C. H. Pham, “Narrative Inquiry,” Applied Linguistics and Language Education Research Methods, pp. 150-163, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.4018/979-8-3693-2603-9.ch010.

[27] C. H. Pham, “Qualitative Data Analysis,” Applied Linguistics and Language Education Research Methods, pp. 55-69, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.4018/979-8-3693-2603-9.ch005.

[28] S. Elo, M. Kääriäinen, O. Kanste, T. Pölkki, K. Utriainen, and H. Kyngäs, “Qualitative Content Analysis,” SAGE Open, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2014, Art. no. 215824401452263, doi: 10.1177/2158244014522633.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.34238/tnu-jst.10469

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.
TNU Journal of Science and Technology
Rooms 408, 409 - Administration Building - Thai Nguyen University
Tan Thinh Ward - Thai Nguyen City
Phone: (+84) 208 3840 288 - E-mail: jst@tnu.edu.vn
Based on Open Journal Systems
©2018 All Rights Reserved