Enhancing L2 learners’ ZPD modification through computerized-group dynamic assessment of reading comprehension

ABSTRACT

Following a suggestion by Poehner [2008. Dynamic Assessment: A Vygotskian Approach to Understanding and Promoting Second Language Development. Berlin: Springer] about the possible merger between group dynamic assessment (GDA) rooted in Vygotskian sociocultural theory (SCT) and computer testing, this study has decided to test the feasibility of computerized-group dynamic assessment (C-GDA) by means of a tailor-made computer software in the context of L2 reading comprehension. The software was programmed to present five reading comprehension texts alongside a range of prefabricated, implicit to explicit, mediations to measure and expand a group of students’ zone of proximal development (ZPD). After presenting the text on the board, the mediator (teacher) began a series of interactions with the group to find out their ZPD level. When the students failed to reach the correct answer in each text, the computer offered a range of textual and visual mediations to assist him/her as the primary interactant and, then, the group as the secondary interactants. The results indicated the feasibility and applicability of employing C-GDA to the benefit of a group of students in the classroom context

KEYWORDS:

• Group-dynamic assessment (G-DA)
• zone of proximal development (ZPD)
• computerized-dynamic assessment (C-DA)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Iman Bakhoda is an MA graduate of TEFL from Allameh Mohaddes Nouri University, Iran. He has published papers in Humanizing Language Teaching Journal and Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education. He also presented several papers in national and international conferences like Tellsi12, IELTI-7 and CELT-EL2015. He is interested in doing research on dynamic assessment and discourse analysis.

Karim Shabani is a Ph.D. graduate of TEFL from the University of Tehran and academic member of Allameh Mohaddes Nouri University. He has presented a number of papers in international conferences like ICELT2009 (UPM), TELLSI6, TELLSI7, TELLSI9, TELLSI10, TELLSI11, ILI conference, ICELET2012 (University of Tehran), etc. His areas of interest are Vygotsky’s Socio-cultural Theory, (dynamic) testing/assessment and simultaneous interpreting.