Project Objectives

The objectives were to develop a web-based system of learning activities aimed at preparing students for the IELTS writing test. The system would help students to find their own specific areas of weakness in their writing and provide instruction and exercises focused on those areas.

Description of process and deliverables

• Identified the most common and significant errors. Deliverable: a list of priority errors completed as planned.
• Devised diagnostic quiz to help students find their most significant weaknesses. Deliverable: a working and tested online quiz.
• Prepared a bank of self-study items focused on the errors identified in the quiz. Deliverable: a working and tested task bank.
• Built the two parts into an integrated online system, trained users and launched. Deliverable: fully functioning system, teacher training, report on scope for dissemination.

Evaluation of outcomes

The diagnostic quiz had been evaluated, modified and tested again in terms of helpfulness and user interactivity. For the diagnostic quiz, the responses of the students were analyzed and compared with the ‘real’ errors made in students’ writing. Students’ feedback on the usability of the system was also collected. Two rounds of testing were completed, one on each of the first two versions of the diagnostic system.

Dissemination of results & deliverables

• The project was described to the colleagues of the English Language Teaching Unit, who were showed how the system could be used.
• It was also intended to write a paper for publication based on the findings of the error analysis and the development of the diagnostic test.
• A seminar in June 2008 to demonstrate the common errors students made in IELTS, the diagnostic system, and the task bank built for the teachers of English language teaching.