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Could someone please tell me how I an have sight of BEST. I have been looking for an adaptive, normative, diagnostic test for ages and this seems as though it might fit the bill.<BR>
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What flavour of English is it? Yes, you can see that I am of the Queen's English brigade!<BR>
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Thanks for any help - btw this would be for research purposes not productive use.<BR>
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Anthony Berry<BR><BR><BR>
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Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 04:34:28 -0700<BR>From: mjjerdems@yahoo.com<BR>To: assessment@nifl.gov<BR>Subject: [Assessment 1314] Re: CASAS vs. BEST<BR><BR>The BEST is great for assessing the learner's production of English. Its additional pluses are that there are not test forms that learners can learn it identify and recall easily; the test questions become harder or easier depending on how the learner's responses are scored, which mitigates differences between assessors; and it would be better able to identify small progress than CASAS forms. <BR><BR>The one major downside is that it takes time and more time as the learners progress. A large program simply cannot afford to put the hours into testing that BEST Plus requires.<BR><BR>I've used both CASAS and BEST Plus in smaller programs because one instrument cannot give a full picture on a learner (Assessment 101), and it maximizes the chance to show improvement at post-test. <BR><BR>Good luck,<BR><BR>Mary Jane Jerde<BR>Howard Community College<BR><BR><B><I>"Rodrick Beiler, Ingrid" <Ingrid.RodrickBeiler@montgomerycountymd.gov></I></B> wrote:
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi everyone</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I serve as the coordinator for an adult ESOL program in Montgomery County, MD. We offer classes mostly at the beginner level, with some classes at literacy and intermediate levels as well. I am fairly new to this field and am trying to determine the comparative usefulness of CASAS and BEST for assessment of our program. Can anyone comment on how/why their organizations might have chosen one over the other?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In case it is helpful for understanding my organization's needs, here is some more background information:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- We serve about 275-300 learners per semester.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- Many of our learners have a very low educational level.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- Pre- and post-tests are administered by our instructors during the first and last classes of the semester.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- Placement tests are administered by coordinators at each of our sites in one-on-one interviews.</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- We provide 36-48 instructional hours per semester. (I wonder if this precludes our using the BEST.)</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- Most of our funding comes from two sources (government and a private funder).</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>- The cost of standardized assessments is an important factor to us.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Your advice is much appreciated.</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks,</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ingrid Rodrick Beiler</FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><B><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ingrid Rodrick Beiler</FONT></B> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>ESOL Coordinator</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Linkages to Learning</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>51 Monroe Street, Suite 1700</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rockville, MD 20850</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Phone: (240) 777-1110</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax: (240) 777-1111</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>ingrid.rodrickbeiler@montgomerycountymd.gov</FONT> </DIV>-------------------------------<BR>National Institute for Literacy<BR>Assessment mailing list<BR>Assessment@nifl.gov<BR>To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/assessment<BR>Email delivered to mjjerdems@yahoo.com<BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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