The Assessment and Evaluation of Online B.A. English Courses in the 21st Century: Challenges and Possibilities

Abstract

          The assessment and evaluation of B.A. English online courses (first offered in 2010) at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) are facing the challenges to accommodate new contexts in the 21^st century language learning and teaching, with imminent changes from all aspects. At present STOU B.A. online English provides both formative and summative assessment and evaluation in a distance learning context, and it has recently introduced an electronic English performance test. The processes are practical and the quality can be assured.

          The challenges include (1) the evaluation of productive skills, (2) the inclusive measurement of formative and summative evaluation with added value of self-assessment, and (3) the adaptation to new context in multimodal texts, multiliteracies and 21^st century skills, and electronic tests. The author proposes the possibilities of modification first with providing a placement test. With the outcome of resourceful speakers and multi competent speakers as suggested by renowned scholars in the field of English language teaching, the tests should focus more on formative assessment with the value added self-assessment, while the electronic tests can help with drills or final test for large numbers of students. The final evaluation should focus on a comprehensive portfolio of students’ performance