Assessment Foundations for Adult ESL Instructors  

Welcome to this Professional Development Workshop for Adult ESL Instructors!

This professional development (PD) workshop was developed during EDIS 7812 (Professional Portfolio) as the culminating project of my Ed.S. program in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Virginia, and is designed to support ESL educators in enhancing their assessment literacy. 

This professional development (PD) workshop is designed to equip educators with foundational knowledge of assessment practices, with a particular focus on applications within English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. The training introduces essential concepts in assessment, including:

• The differences among various types of assessments

• Key features and examples of performance-based assessments

• Core principles of validity, reliability, and fairness

• How to align performance-based assessment tasks with student learning outcomes (SLOs) using the CEFR "Can Do" descriptors

• The distinction between holistic and analytic rubrics

The PD is divided into five modules, each with its own learning objectives, pre-assessment activities, reading, video and Power Point resources, live discussion, post-assessment, and reflection questions through an exit ticket.

Module Structure

Each module follows a consistent structure:

1. Pre-assessment – Short quizzes or anticipation guides

2. Reading assignment(s) – Selected texts introducing key concepts

3. Video(s) and Power Point Presentations – Supplemental content to deepen understanding

4. Live presentation and discussion – Synchronous session with interactive activities

5. Post-assessment – Check for understanding and application

6. Exit ticket – Reflection questions to reinforce learning

Content: 

Module 1: Understanding Assessment Types in ESL Education

Module 2: Designing Performance-Based Assessments

Module 3: Ensuring Validity, Reliability and Fairness in Assessments

Module 4: Aligning Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) and Assessment with the CEFR

Module 5: Developing and Utilizing Holistic and Analytic Rubrics