【简介】

The Impact of High-stakes Examinations on Classroom Teaching

——A Case Study Using Insights from Testing and Innovation Theory

It is widely believed that one of the most effective ways of creating change in an education system is by introducing or re-designing high-stakes examinations. This method is not foolproof, however, as the factors which can affect the impact of such an innovation are many and varied. 

This volume contains an account of one of the first data-based studies of examination washback. Through a detailed analysis of the impact of examination reform in one specific educational setting, it considers the effects of an examination which was meant to serve as alever for change;  the studys findings show clearly how the intended outcome was altered by factors in the examination itself, as well as by characteristic of the context, the teachers and the learners. Key features of the volume include:

·a comprehensive review of the literature on language testing, examination impact and innovation in education

·a detailed and rigorous case study analysis which is relevant to examination reform movements in many countries

·valuable insights and advice for educators seeking to implement curriculum change through examination reform.

This volume provides not only a helpful model for researching washback and impact but also practical guidelines for the planning and management of change within an educational context. As such, it will be of particular relevance to all who are involved in the process of curriculum and examination reform, as well as to academic researchers, university lecturers, postgraduate students, and practising teachers.

【出版说明】

语言测试作为语言教学的重要组成部分，一直是社会关注的焦点。近年来，我国学术界对语言测试研究的关注也在逐渐升温。国际上，学者们对语言测试的研究已经达到较高的水平，无论是从理论框架的形成到复杂数学模型的建构及其应用方面都取得了实质性的进展，而且在对有国际影响力的外语考试（如雅思、托福等）的信度、效度的研究方面也取得了不俗的成果，出版了不少优秀的著作。

英国剑桥大学出版社出版的‘Studies in Language Testing”是其中较有影响力的系列之一。丛书由剑桥语言测评中心策划推出，从测试领域的各个研究视角入手，展示了该领域研究的设计、数据收集和数据分析等环节的基础理论与实践操作，反映了测试领域的最新研究动态。

外教社从中精选9种，引进出版。这些图书中，有对语言测试听说读写等方面的效度和质性研究，也有对测试反拨效应及其对教学影响的研究，还有对雅思考试和欧洲语言共同参考框架的分析思考。希望丛书的出版可以为我国语言测试研究领域的发展和创新提供具有借鉴意义的启示，打开更广阔的研究思路。

【目录】

 List of figures

 List of tables

 Acknowledgements

 Series Editorsnote

 Chapter 1

 Introduction

 Chapter 2

 The origins of the present investigation: the Sri Lankan O-level Examination Project

 Chapter 3

 The impact of high-stakes examinations on teaching

 Chapter 4

 Innovation in education

 Chapter 5

 Methodology

 Chapter 6

 The impact of the new examination on teaching:

 the teachersview

 Chapter 7

 Antecedents: what did teaching look like before 1985?

 Chapter 8

 Implementation factors: characteristics of the

 innovation: the textbook series

 Chapter 9

 SInon Implementation factors: characteristics of the

 innovation: the new examination

 Chapter 10

 Implementation factors: characteristics of the

 user system

 Chapter 11

 Implementation factors: characteristics of the users

 Chapter 12

 Discussion and future directions

 Appendices

 1. Old Syllabus Examination, 1987

 2. New Syllabus Examination, 1988

 3. Observation schedule, Sri Lankan O-level Evaluation Project- Impact Study, Round 6

 4. Summary of results from observations, Sri Lankan O-level Evaluation Project-Impact Study, Rounds 1-6

 5. Generalizations summarizing research findings (Rogers 1995) 6. Propositions concerning the success of projects(Smith 1991) 7.Interview guide for group interviews. October-November 1991 8. Initial coding scheme

 9. Sample of coded transcript

 10. Revised coding scheme

 11. Sample unit from English Every Day, Year 11

 12.Description of typical classrooms(Alderson and Wall

199287-88)

 13. Recommendations for a baseline study -St Petersburg(wall19959-10)

 14. Communications web. Year 12 Project-Estonia

 15. Plans for phasing in a new examination. Year 12 Project- oe Lithuania

 References

 Index