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Curtin International College

Implementing a diagnostic exercise to identify and support students at risk, assisting in English level determination and student background information acquisition. The exercise involves a structured essay task and tracking of identified students for additional support programs. Challenges include consistency in delivery and assessment, with proposed solutions for online diagnostics and attendance tracking.

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Curtin International College

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  1. Curtin International College Diagnostic Exercise

  2. Background The decision to implement a diagnostic exercise was based on • the need to identify students at risk (as part of our early intervention policy) • the need for an additional tool to determine English levels which may not be reflected in measurements of English proficiency • A recognition that there is a reluctance on the part of students to self-select English support

  3. The diagnostic exercise provides a means of: • Identifying students who require extra support with their language skills • Alerting students to that fact they need extra support • Gaining more information about the English entry pathways and assisting benchmarking of the various pathways • Gaining more information about the background of students who require support i.e. nationality, educational background, English level.

  4. Description of Diagnostic Exercise CURTIN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE Diagnostic Exercise (Certificate IV) Trimester 2 2008 NAME__________________________ CIC ID NUMBER _________ NATIONALITY: _________________ FIRST LANGUAGE: ________________ ARE YOU AN  OVERSEAS STUDENT  LOCAL STUDENT? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN AUSTRALIA? ________________ HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION ACHIEVED: _______________________ DESCRIBE ANY ENGLISH COURSES OR TESTS YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN (e.g. ELICOS; TOEFL; IELTS; IBT test, etc) and the GRADE/LEVEL ACHIEVED. E.g. IELTS 5 or ELICOS Upper Intermediate Pass ________________________________________________________________ WHICH COURSE ARE YOU COMPLETING? _______________________________________________________________ LIST THE UNITS YOU ARE TAKING THIS SEMESTER ________________________________________________________________ TASK: Write an essay of approximately 300 words on the following topic: What do you consider to be the main objectives of the government of a country to ensure the wellbeing of all its citizens?

  5. Delivery of Exercise • All NEW students complete in week 1 of core classes • Maximum 30 minutes duration • Lecturers provided with instructions and advice for students to ensure consistency of delivery and to alleviate anxiety

  6. Assessment of exercise • Marked by qualified ESL staff • Marking criteria provided • Scripts assessed as OK or REQUIRES SUPPORT • Students identified are advised to enrol in Support program

  7. Tracking of Identified Students • Notes made in MAZE (Information Management System) • Students flagged on ENGTRAX – category created of all students identified and students who take up support program are given a green flag. • Attendance monitored on a regular basis

  8. Reporting • Report prepared at end of each trimester • Compares performance of students identified who completed support program and those who did not • Results used to inform academic department and to promote program at Orientation

  9. A Comparison Of Performance Of Students Who Did EDP And Students Who Were Advised And Did Not Do EDP Semester 1 2008

  10. Problems posed by this exercise • Does not assess all language areas • Relies on cooperation of lecturing staff to administer exercise (some lecturers forget!) • Not all students are present when exercise conducted • Marking is onerous and may not be consistent

  11. Towards an On-line Diagnostic Exercise • To be conducted as part of orientation program • Multiple Choice Questions - assesses listening and reading comprehension and grammar • Exercise is on a timer - maximum of 60 mins to complete • Uses Flash – students cannot backtrack to change answers

  12. Towards an On-line Diagnostic Exercise • Score emailed to student and College within several hours • Students who score below a prescribed level (35) will be automatically enrolled • No compulsion to attend but attendance monitored • Information used to counsel students with poor progress

  13. http://www.cic.wa.edu.au/eoutlook/school/placement/ieltscurtin.htmlhttp://www.cic.wa.edu.au/eoutlook/school/placement/ieltscurtin.html

  14. English Development Program • Free of charge • 7 week program beginning week 2 of trimester • 3 hour workshop offered 6 times per week • Focus on grammar, sentence structure, paragraphs, essays, reports • Individual assistance with assignments provided • Program may be a condition of enrolment, students self-select or college enrols them as a result of diagnostic exercise

  15. Key Challenges • Course needs to be perceived as a necessary adjunct to their studies • Content needs to reflect discipline-specific skills • Attendance – keeping them there once they have enrolled

  16. Ways we are trying to address challenges: • Introduced a PASS/FAIL requirement for students with a condition – based on assessment and attendance • Attendance reminders sent on regular basis • Students need to complete a support program prior to obtaining individual assistance

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