Computerized Dynamic Assessment of Students’ Aptitude for English Language Tenses

Abstract

Statement of the problem. Computerized dynamic assessment of aptitude for learning foreign languages ​​is insufficiently represented in educational practice. The paper reveals new possibilities of using information technologies for solving a topical issue of diagnosing aptitude for learning a foreign language as an integral dynamic indicator for monitoring the quality of foreign language teaching. The instrumental basis for the computerized dynamic assessment of learning criteria is the dynamic computerized test simulators (DCTS) of educational activity. The purpose of the article is to study the potential of dynamic computer test simulators “English Language Tenses” as an instrument of dynamic assessment of students’ aptitude for learning the English language verbal tenses. Research methodology includes analysis of studies by Russian and international scientists on computerization of dynamic assessment of English language learning. The methods used in the computerization of dynamic learning assessment are based on the theory of development by J. Piaget, reinforcement learning, activity and environment approaches to the analysis of procedural characteristics of learning activities. Research results. We developed instrumental tools for diagnostics of learning aptitude – DCTS “English Language Tenses”. Experimentally, two groups of subjects were chosen so that they differed from each other in the dynamics of procedural characteristics of educational activity: the first group was characterized by a monotonous decrease in the number of errors with an increase in the number of the task being performed; the second group was characterized by a non-monotonous decrease in the number of errors, disturbed by an abrupt increase in the number of errors. The subjects of the first student group, as a rule, have a greater learning potential or learning aptitude, in comparison with the subjects of the second group. Approbation was carried out and recommendations were given for the use of the DCTS “English Language Tenses” for monitoring the process of teaching English. Conclusions. Analyzing the results of experimental testing of the DCTS “English Language Tenses” in the dynamic assessment of English learning, the authors come to the conclusion that it is advisable to use the procedural characteristics of learning activities: labor intensity, temporal pace, frequency of errors and reinforcement of learning activities as indicators for monitoring English language learning. The considered approach to the diagnostics of students’ aptitude for learning the tenses of the English language provides information about features of developing cognitive functions in students.