--- Forwarded Message from "Golden, John " <[log in to unmask]> ---
>From: "Golden, John " <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'LLTI-Editor '" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #5600.2 placement exam survey results (!)
>Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2000 08:48:13 -0400
Does anyone have any experience with the placement tests from CARLA at the
U of Minnesota?
-----Original Message-----
From: LLTI-Editor
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: 4/13/00 8:24 AM
Subject: Re: #5600.2 placement exam survey results (!)
--- Forwarded Message from Cindy Evans <[log in to unmask]> ---
>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 12:20:52 -0400
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
<[log in to unmask]>
>From: Cindy Evans <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #5600.1 placement exam survey results (!)
------------------
I appreciate your comments, Derek, and would add that we have had
similar
problems with the FCAPE crashing regularly. I have also found support
to
be lacking. We are hoping that the web-based version runs more
smoothly.
Faculty object to some of the content (questions with more than one
possible correct answer) among other conerns (students getting the same
question more than once, for example) but we have not come up with an
alternative that is as efficient as the BYU exams. We need to use a
computer-based exam at this point in order to offer the placement
testing
on a more flexible basis and provide immediate feedback.
>--- 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]
_____________________________________________________________
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
_____________________________________________________________
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