A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Changes in Language Assessment Through the Lens of New Materialism (2023)

Huhta, A., & Boivin, N. (2023). Changes in Language Assessment Through the Lens of New Materialism. In J. Ennser-Kananen, & T. Saarinen (Eds.), New Materialist Explorations into Language Education (pp. 39-56). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13847-8_3

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Huhta, Ari; Boivin, Nettie

Parent publication: New Materialist Explorations into Language Education

Parent publication editors: Ennser-Kananen, Johanna; Saarinen, Taina

ISBN: 978-3-031-13846-1

eISBN: 978-3-031-13847-8

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 11/10/2022

Pages range: 39-56

Number of pages in the book: 190

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Place of Publication: Cham

Publication country: Switzerland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13847-8_3

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83537

Abstract

In this chapter, we analyze English tests that are part of two computerised assessment systems, the Finnish Matriculation Examination and the Danish National Tests. Language assessment is a fruitful field to explore from the perspective of materiality, to better understand what materialities exist in modern language tests and how students interact with such systems. Within the assessment and test-taking space, material objects exist that are imbued with political values and force test-takers to perform in specific ways. We explore what new materialism has to offer for interpreting current trends in language assessment and to what extent these perspectives allow for new insights to emerge. We describe the changes in language assessment concerning material developments and focus on the aspects of computerization that pertain to formal tests and examinations. Computerization has increased human-computer interaction during the assessment process, as well as automated analysis and scoring of test-takers’ responses. This implies that the computerized system assumes some degree of agency.

Keywords: evaluation; languages; foreign languages; language tests; English language; matriculation examination (tests); electronic matriculation examination; materialism; digitalisation

Free keywords: agency; computerised assessment; material relationship; Finnish matriculation examination; Danish national tests

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2023

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2