learning-oriented assessment (LOA)

Different techniques can be used to enhance EFL students’ vocabulary learning. One such technique can be learning-oriented assessment (LOA) which may have a positive impact on vocabulary learning. To investigate the effect of LOA on EFL learners’ vocabulary learning and retention, 60 intermediate EFL learners were selected. After checking the homogeneity of the participants by using an Oxford Placement Test (OPT), 60 participants were selected and they took a pretest of vocabulary. Afterward, they were divided into 2 groups, the experimental group received the LOA treatment and the control group received the placebo. Based on Carless framework (2007), LOA was applied in the experimental group for 40 hours. Then, both groups took the post-test and the delayed post-test after 2 weeks. The reliability of the pretest, post-test, and delayed post-test was considered acceptable. Two repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to determine whether there were statistical differences between the pretest, post-test, and delayed post-test of each group. Also, two independent-samples t-tests were used to determine the differences between the post-test of the two groups and their delayed post-tests. The results showed that LOA significantly affected the experimental group’s vocabulary learning. On the other hand, LOA did not have any significant impact on the learners’ retention of vocabulary in the delayed post-test. The most important implication of the study is that for better retention of words, more hours of LOA instruction are needed.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of mobile-assisted learning-oriented assessment (LOA) on the writing ability of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. A total of 60 intermediate Iranian EFL learners were selected through convenience sampling and divided randomly into two groups: control and experimental. Both groups completed pretests and posttests, and the experimental group received nine 90-minute sessions focused on teaching descriptive essay writing using LOA syllabi and mobile applications related to the tasks. The control group followed a traditional writing syllabus without any LOA-related treatments. Both groups used the Adobe Connect mobile application for their online classes. Two open-ended questions were administered to the experimental group at the beginning and end of the course to measure their attitudes toward mobile-assisted language learning (MALL). The data were analyzed using a repeated-measures two-way ANOVA, revealing that mobile-assisted LOA significantly improved the EFL learners’ writing ability. The results of the two open-ended questions indicated that the learners had a positive attitude toward MALL in general but a somewhat negative attitude toward online classes. The findings have important implications for teachers, materials developers, and teacher educators.