Computer-assisted Language Testing

Hello.. now i would like to share something that i am studying now. What is CALT? It is Computer- assisted Language Testing which every tests are administered at computer terminals, or on personal computers. Receptive-response items-including multiple-choice, true-false, and matching items are adapted to the computer-assisted testing medium.
Educational Testing Service (1996) claims the following advantages for their new computer-based TOEFL,

• Further enhancements to test design before 2000
• Greater flexibility in scheduling test administrations
• Greater standardization of test administration conditions
• Portions of test individualized to examinee ability level
• Inclusion of writing with every test administration
• Examinee choice of handwriting or typing essay
• Ability to record multiple aspects of examinee test-taking behavior
• Platform for future innovations in test design and services (p. 5).

There might be some problem occured in using CALT like cheating in exams or the computer might not working in order and the exposure of questions for the future students. But, there are some steps that can avoid the occurancy of the problem such as having a very large item bank with a wide variety of difficulty levels to meet all item specifications desired in the test,
having the computer select a number of items which might come next (rather than a single item) and then randomly select from among those possibilities (as in McBride & Martin, 1983),
having the computer selected the next item based on complex probabilistic models like those discussed in Stocking (1992), Stocking and Lewis (1995a; 1995b),
Use simulation studies to estimate the efficiency of different sized item banks in minimizing exposure, then stay within whatever size limits those studies suggest,
circulate item banks, or sub-banks, through different testing sites, constantly change the items in an item bank by adding new items and eliminating old ones (especially those most likely to have been exposed), and monitor the functioning of items within the item pool by keeping track of students' item performances, and identify items that appear to have been exposed. (http://llt.msu.edu/vol1num1/brown/)

UKM is providing higher education based on nationalistic endaveour and now is
adopting Malay Language as the medium of intstruction. It is promoting the national language of Malaysia as the academic language and it had draw its own successnow. This was managed through tranlation from English into Malay by the acdemicians.However, UKM still practicing English language in language and technology learning such as the Learning Care Portal, Test Online and so on.

Although it was tough and looks like an "old version" of university when UKM acknowledged Malay language as the medium of instruction, UKM managed to produce excellent student who can use English very well within the the electronic learning. This was something that we should really care, that people in this era are more open to the technology world. Students must be able and are not afraid to use the computer because everyday, we must "meet" it, even once a day.