In recent years the Modern Languages Teaching Centre (MLTC) at the University of Sheffield saw a sharp increase in student numbers mounting up to 1,600 registrations per year. The higher student numbers along with the Program Level Approach have posed new challenges – one of them is the question: How can we assess large groups of students while at the same time offering the students opportunities to develop their language skills as well as their information and digital literacy skills?
At the MLTC we have met this challenge by adopting the use of Google Sites for the formative assessment of independent study. Through the use of Google Sites for the presentation of their portfolio of Independent Study Record (ISR) in the modules MLT263 Spanish Advanced 2 and MLT254 German Higher Intermediate.
Students in MLT263 and MLT254 (Spring 2019) are not simply submitting their work in a traditional format using a text document (the way this ISR portfolio has been submitted so far), but are asked to do it on a digital platform: a Google Site. Students are also encouraged to learn to develop and manage a website (Google Site) that can be used beyond the language classroom.
On the one hand, these Google Sites allow us to assess students’ research, independent study skills and the development of their respective language skills. On the other hand, they promote students’ media competence thus contributing to their development of the Sheffield Graduate Attributes (Sheffield Graduate Attribute 12: ‘Equipped with appropriate information and digital literacy skills’), so that students get the most out of their training.
Engracia Fernandez Navas - University of Sheffield