GLO (Grammar Learning Online). Integrating language learning functionality with QuestionMark™ Perception

Within the Division of European Languages and Cultures (DELC) at the University of Edinburgh, several computer-assisted language learning (CALL) programmes are used to support the course curricula. Many of these are legacy MS-DOS based programmes they have become outdated in both presentation and language content and their usefulness in providing secure and reliable assessment is, at best, very limited. There was a strong need to find a replacement that would both update and enhance the provision of language assessment whilst retaining the most useful features available in the existing CALL-based software, so that both summative and formative e-assessment could be delivered in a more flexible and updated way. This paper describes work on GLO (Grammar Learning Online) a project funded by the University of Edinburgh’s Principle’s e-Learning fund to provide an online assessment solution suitable for all language departments within DELC. GLO uses the Macromedia™ Flash question type within the QuestionMark™ Perception™ assessment framework to incorporate certain specific features of language learning testing. This paper also describes the process of converting question content Word files, as authored by course tutors, into the template .XML files as required by Flash.