Student-centred learning and formative assessment: a possible answer to online language and literature teaching and learning

Abstract

The University of Calgary transitioned to online teaching in March 2020. Subsequent months saw instructors working to overcome the personal, technological, and pedagogical challenges involved in this. Central to those discussions was the need to increase student engagement and develop effective assessment formats. Based on student feedback and personal reflection, the adoption of a synchronous learning environment fostering student-centred learning and formative assessment was considered appropriate in the context of online language teaching and learning. It responded to students’ increased stress levels due to the lack of face-to-face communication and tackled the issues of student attention span and engagement, as well as academic integrity. This paper starts with a brief discussion of factors that affect students’ behavioural patterns and academic performances during online teaching and learning. It then presents five activities and assessments used in language teaching and examines the effectiveness of these activities in improving student engagement and their retention of course material.