--- Forwarded Message from Derek Roff <[log in to unmask]> ---
>Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 08:36:11 -0600
>From: Derek Roff <[log in to unmask]>
>To: LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5600 placement exam survey results
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Originator-Info: login-token=Mulberry:01rp2NjxIC//Q03f/77k/GDfMuuAEuEg==
We have been (attempting) to use the BYU S-CAPE placement exam (Mac
version) for Spanish for more than a year. I have been very
disappointed. It does not operate as promised. At least two of the
standard options do not run properly. We have had freezes and
crashes. More seriously, the exam gives inconsistent results when
testing the same student, and many of the questions are ambiguous.
Students taking the test after one or two semesters are given a score
of zero with disturbing frequency. Our students find the interface
difficult to use.
Most bothersome to me, support has been terrible. The development
team at BYU has promised us answers, fixes and updates, which have
not come through in more than a year of trying to work with them.
Often, they won't even answer email and phone calls, and they have
never returned our messages by the promised date.
I hesitate to write criticisms of this sort about our colleagues, who
are trying to aid our work. I have met the people involved with the
exam, and I have positive feelings about them, but the product and
service that we have received is unacceptable. Hopefully the web
version is better, but the system that we have, which has been on the
market for something like eight years, has more flaws than most beta
version software. If you are considering this software, evaluate it
carefully and thoroughly, to make sure it meets your criteria. We
were told to support it, after a cursory evaluation by a few
professors who have little contact with the lab. Now, no one is
happy with it.
Derek
--On Tue, Apr 11, 2000 8:37 AM +0000 LLTI-Editor
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> --- Forwarded Message from Cindy Evans <[log in to unmask]>
> ---
>
>> Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 11:39:52 -0400
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> From: Cindy Evans <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: placement exam survey results
>
> Here is a summary of the responses I received regarding the use of
> placement exams. I want to thank all those who responded, many
> with very in-depth descriptions of placement at their institutions.
> It looks as though our dept. has finally (almost) decided to use
> the BYU web-based exams, providing we can agree on a different
> means of assessing proficiency (for students who "place out" of our
> language requirement).
>
>
> Exam Used: Reasons Given:
>
> BYU Exams: 8 (+2 considering them) efficiency
> flexibility in
> administering
> accuracy
> immediate results
> computerized
> randomized
> best option
> available
>
> In-house Exams: 8 cost
> not much demand for
> exams inertia
> accuracy
>
> Wisconsin Exams: 2 listening component
>
> AP Exams: 1 (for langs not covered accuracy
> By the BYU exams) no alternative
>
> SOPI: 1
>
> _____________________________________________________________
> Cindy Evans, Director
> Foreign Language Resource Center [log in to unmask]
> and Lecturer in French phone: 518-580-5205
> Skidmore College fax: 518-580-5230
> _____________________________________________________________
Derek Roff
Language Learning Center, Ortega Hall Rm 129, University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131 505/277-4804 fax 505/277-3885
Internet: [log in to unmask]
|
