Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Invigilated (in-class or Zoom) listening test

This task is identity verified so allows for an accurate assessment of students’ comprehension. Delivering the test online (through Inspera, or, previously using a link on BB) means students have control of the video and so they are able to stop and play again if they encounter background noise or internet issues.

Finding video resources of comparable length and level of difficulty for different tutorial groups. Trying to ensure that the test is only being taken by the students who are being observed – that other students in the cohort don’t access the link in non-invigilated conditions. Students can collude through Zoom chat or (external students) via other communication channels (e.g. social media).

• Ensure that enough staff are available to observe the students both in the classroom and on Zoom.
• Explain to students ahead of time that if they are on Zoom they will need to turn their cameras on and their microphones off, advise them to use the chat to ask their questions.
• Book a computer lab on campus so that no-one is disadvantaged because they don’t have a computer to bring to class, but encourage everyone to bring their own equipment (since they need to use earphones).
• If the test is delivered via Blackboard, it can be set up with a password which is given at the start of the test to students who are present: students can’t access the test unless they turn up. The “Test code” setting in Inspera could potentially be used in the same way, but there are problems transferring the marks to Grade Centre.

• Understand and extract the essential information from short recorded passages dealing with [topics covered in the course] that are delivered slowly and clearly
  (CEFR scale for Listening to Radio, Audio and Recordings, A2)
• Understand short simple texts on familiar matters of a concrete type
  (CEFR scale for Overall Reading Comprehension, A2).
• Show some awareness of French culture and cultural practices (including terms of address and generic conventions).

This task is identity verified as the students are observed completing the assessment (either in the classroom or via Zoom). Each tute group has a different stimulus, and students are told this. There is therefore no point in trying to track down the video from Group A if you are in Group B.