Formative Assessments for the Virtual ELL Classroom

Formative assessment is an integral part of any classroom; however, the virtual classroom that teaches speaking presents its own set of unique challenges for ELL teachers and students. In this setting, teachers who wish to assess their students' speaking skills regularly must be creative in gathering accurate information and in keeping students engaged. In this workshop, the presenters will provide three types of formative assessments that can then be used immediately in their online or in-person classroom. The assessments are divided into three categories: pronunciation, conversation practice, and task-based activities. Within the three categories, we will cover two activities each. Each type of assessment will be briefly explained for participants followed by an interactive demonstration. The workshop will conclude with a discussion on the benefits and challenges of these assessments as well as ways to adapt and integrate them into participant's own contexts. Participants will walk away with a handout describing each activity and associate links.