Basics and methods of performance measurement in GFL

Teacher(s)

Suner Munoz Ferran;

Language

Deutsch

Prerequisites

Solid knowledge of German linguistics. Consolidated B2 level in German. Basic knowledge of the didactics of German as a foreign language and/or the didactics of foreign languages. 

Main themes

This course focuses on the implementation of various methods of performance measurement in the context of German as a foreign language. Initially, the fundamentals of determining the quality of testing, measurement, and evaluation instruments based on current scientific theories and empirical findings will be discussed. Following this, the development and application of these methods in different contexts of teaching and research practice will be illustrated and tested through concrete cases. Not only standard forms of performance measurement will be considered, but also alternative methods such as informal evaluation, peer evaluation, self-evaluation, and interactionist dynamic evaluation. 

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Understand and analyze the fundamental principles of various performance measurement methods based on current theories and empirical results in the field of research on didactics and language acquisition.
2	Create and practically apply measurement and evaluation instruments in various contexts of teaching and research on German as a foreign language.
3	Engage in a deep reflection on the application of these measurement and evaluation instruments in order to have a rich and adapted repertoire of performance measurement methods, essential for their practice as teachers and researchers.

Content

• Foundations and reference frameworks: definitions, functions and purposes of assessment; competence levels, standards, and curricula.
• Typology and design of instruments: assessment methods (diagnostic, formative, summative, standardized, alternative), task specifications, scoring criteria, and principles of validity.
• Practices and applications: performance analysis, grading strategies, integration of informal assessment, peer assessment, self-assessment, and dynamic assessment.
• Case studies and practical workshops: development and validation of tasks, implementation of PEP projects, and critical discussion of implications for teaching and research.

Teaching methods

Mixed approach, consisting of short lectures by the instructor and phases of presentation and discussion of various tasks and sources, researched and worked on by the students individually or in groups.
As part of the course, students will have the opportunity to obtain an official joint certificate from the Goethe-Institut and UCLouvain for the "Deutsch Lehren und Lernen" (DLL) program. Since obtaining this certificate requires a B2 language level, a certified language test from the Goethe-Institut could be organized free of charge for students, if the course coordinators deem it necessary.

Evaluation methods

Continuous assessment (40% of the final grade):

• Regular work in virtual classrooms on the Goethe-Institut's learning platform, necessary for completing the exercises and tasks of DLL 7 (10%).
• Presentation of the design of a Practice Exploration Project (PEP) and preliminary results (20% of the final grade), which will later be the subject of a written assignment as part of the final evaluation.
• Active participation in the course sessions and related activities (class interaction, group work, participation in a study day organized jointly with the Goethe-Institut, and implementation of a Practice Exploration Project (PEP) in a school) (10%).

Final evaluation (60% of the final grade):

• Written assignment to be submitted in the June session focusing on the planning and implementation of a Practice Exploration Project (PEP) around a question that arises from the students' experiences, reactions, interests, and their engagement with the content of DLL 7.

In case of a second exam registration, the student only retakes the failed parts of the final evaluation.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI), if used at all, must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. Since scientific integrity means citing sources, the use of AI must always be reported.

Online resources

For this course, the moodle platform of the Goethe-Institut will be used in addition to the regular moodle platform.

Faculty or entity

> ELAL