Assessing Achievement with the ELL in Mind (Coursera)

Assessing Achievement with the ELL in Mind (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn how to design assessments around the needs of your ELL students and their language level. You will learn how to incorporate language and content requirements for both formative and summative assessment types. You will learn to assess your ELL students through the use of project and task-based assignments.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You will learn to use and modify rubrics to align to and measure student achievement of your language and content learning objectives. The course will also briefly cover strategies for supporting ELL students during standardized testing.
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Conceptualize theories of authentic assessment as they apply to second language learners
  • Design formative assessment types incorporating language and content objectives
  • Design summative assessment types incorporating language and content objectives
  • Incorporate project and task-based assignments as assessment tools for ELLs
  • Design rubrics that align to language and content objectives for your ELL(s)
  • Apply the use of rubrics, both language and content, to the work of your ELL(s).
  • Support your ELL(s) as they participate in standardised testing

Assessing Achievement with the ELL in Mind is course 2 of 4 in the ELL Success in the Content Classroom: Teacher Toolbox Series Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction to Authentic Assessment with the ELL in Mind
Welcome to week 1 of the course! The material presented in the lessons this week is key to understanding assessments and its impact on ELLs. By the end of this module, you will be able to identify the purpose of different types of assessment, identify key concepts in authentic assessment, understand the difficulties associated with assessing ELLs, review language and learning objectives within a lesson or unit plan for assessment purposes, apply techniques for authentic assessment design using specific questions as criteria. Let's get started!

WEEK 2
Formative and Summative Assessment with the ELL in Mind
Welcome to week 2 of the course! The lessons this week focus a bit more specifically on the different types of assessment and how they uniquely impact our ELLs. We hope that you find some helpful strategies in the lessons provided. By the end of this module, you will be able to: identify purposes of formative and summative assessment types, employ a variety of formative assessments in the content classroom while keeping in mind ELL language acquisition, design plenary activities within the lesson plan as a means of formative assessment design summative assessments in the content classroom while keeping in mind ELL language acquisition, use “can-do” statements as a means of describing assessment criteria for language and content objectives. Let's get started!

WEEK 3
Alternative Assessments with the ELL in Mind
Welcome to week 3 of the course! This module will give you an opportunity to take a look at some of the ways that you can create and modify the assessments you use in your class. By the end of this module, you will be able to: use alternative assessment formats to best assess your ELL, create modified assessments to allow for content assessment of ELLs at any language level, use visual assessments for basic-level ELLs, apply a variety of support strategies for assessment, and assign appropriate grades for modified assessment. Let's get started!

WEEK 4
Grading with the ELL in Mind
Welcome to week 4 of the course! This module covers the hot topic of grading and the many ways that ELLs are impacted by grading. By the end of this module, you will be able to use peer-and self-assessment strategies specified for your content classroom, design rubrics for peer-and self-assessment specified for your content classroom and/or lesson, design rubrics appropriate for assessment of content and necessary language objectives for your ELL, identify appropriate use of linguistic error correction in assessment. Let's get started!

WEEK 5
Project Based Assessment with the ELL in Mind
Welcome to week 5 of the course! We are excited to focus on project based assessment in this module and the many benefits it can have when assessing ELLs. By the end of this module, you will be able to: understand the impact of project and task-based learning and assessment, align project and task-based assessment to learning and language outcomes, design project and task-based assessments, use scaffolding strategies for project and task based assessment, use revision in project and task-based projects as a means of encouraging summative assessment grades. Let's get started!

WEEK 6
Assessment
Welcome to week 6! Congratulations and well done. It is now time to apply the many strategies for lesson planning with the ELL in mind to your own teaching context. By the end of this module, you will be able to synthesize course material, complete the final exam and complete the optional peer review. Good luck!

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Critical Thinking Skills for University Success (Coursera) Coursera
The University of Sydney

Critical Thinking Skills for University Success (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn how to develop your Critical Thinking Skills to help you achieve success in your university studies. After completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Use critical thinking and argumentation in university contexts to improve academic results ; 2. Understand the importance and function of critical thinking in academic culture ; 3. Use a variety of thinking tools to improve critical thinking ; 4. Identify types of argument, and bias within arguments, in order to better evaluate the strength of arguments; 5. Use evidence to support claims in arguments ; 6. Apply critical thinking and argumentation to real world problems and issues

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
ICT in Primary Education: Transforming children's learning across the curriculum (Coursera) Coursera
University of London

ICT in Primary Education: Transforming children's learning across the curriculum (Coursera)

Why and how are teachers integrating ICT (Information and Communication Technology) into primary education? In this course we analyse examples from schools in different parts of the world, and bring professional teachers, headteachers and policymakers together to share their best ideas and inspiring stories. The materials in the course are based on studies carried out for the UNESCO Institute of IT in Education, Moscow.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Emerging Trends & Technologies in the Virtual K-12 Classroom (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Emerging Trends & Technologies in the Virtual K-12 Classroom (Coursera)

Welcome to Emerging Trends and Technologies in K-12! This course will help you evaluate and implement technology in the most useful way within your virtual classroom setting. We will discuss the possibilities and challenges of using technology in fully online environments, although many of the ideas can be applied to blended and traditional environments as well.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom (Coursera)

Welcome to Performance Assessment in the Virtual Classroom! This course will help you effectively assess student performance virtually, including compliance issues, feedback models, online grade book functions, and data analysis. We will discuss why effective measures of performance and assessment are a crucial component of any virtual program, and the importance of teachers and administrators understanding both the myths and challenges of assessing performance virtually, administering standardized testing with geographical challenges, and complying with state and local requirements to make sure students are meeting requirements.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1 (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1 (Coursera)

The purpose of this course is to summarize new directions in Chinese history and social science produced by the creation and analysis of big historical datasets based on newly opened Chinese archival holdings, and to organize this knowledge in a framework that encourages learning about China in comparative perspective. Our course demonstrates how a new scholarship of discovery is redefining what is singular about modern China and modern Chinese history.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Studying at Japanese Universities (Coursera) Coursera
The University of Tokyo

Studying at Japanese Universities (Coursera)

Are you interested in studying at Japanese universities? Do you want to learn about Japan’s university application and enrollment processes, as well as the types of programs on offer? This course will help you to both discover great programs offered by different Japanese universities and prepare a study plan through project-based learning. We introduce a number of options to match a variety of goals, from full degree to non-degree programs, programs taught in English, as well as short-term programs in Japan. During the course, international students at UTokyo will provide you with useful information and advice to start you on the path to studying in Japan.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks
Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling (Coursera) Coursera
University of Houston System

Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling (Coursera)

Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling introduces educators to digital storytelling and explores ways to use digital stories to enhance students’ learning experiences. The course is designed to be comprehensive yet fundamental. By comprehensive we mean that the course provides a solid foundation for all of the components of a digital story and illustrates these components with tutorials, example stories, and links to additional readings. The course also provides a hands-on opportunity for learners to create their own digital stories. The course is fundamental because it covers the basic process of creating a digital story starting with just a simple script and as little as one image.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Uncommon Sense Teaching (Coursera) Coursera
Deep Teaching Solutions

Uncommon Sense Teaching (Coursera)

Do your students spend too much (or too little) time learning, with disappointing results? Do they procrastinate in their study because it’s boring and they’re easily distracted? Are you working to make your teaching even more inclusive? Uncommon Sense Teaching will give you practical new insights that will help you solve these goals and challenges, and many more.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks
Social Norms, Social Change I (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Social Norms, Social Change I (Coursera)

This is a course on social norms, the rules that glue societies together. It teaches how to diagnose social norms, and how to distinguish them from other social constructs, like customs or conventions. These distinctions are crucial for effective policy interventions aimed to create new, beneficial norms or eliminate harmful ones. The course teaches how to measure social norms and the expectations that support them, and how to decide whether they cause specific behaviors.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Aprender (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Aprender (Coursera)

¿Quieres conocer tus recursos y niveles de desempeño relacionadas con tu proceso de aprender? ¿Te interesa desarrollar habilidades para aprender más y mejor? En APRENDER conocerás y pondrás en práctica, de forma sencilla y práctica, resultados de investigación recientes sobre los procesos de lectura, almacenamiento de información, recuperación de recuerdos y velocidad de procesamiento. Así, podrás utilizar, de forma eficiente, estrategias y técnicas muy útiles en tu vida académica, profesional y cotidiana.

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Making Sense of the News: News Literacy Lessons for Digital Citizens (Coursera) Coursera
University of Hong Kong,The State University of New York

Making Sense of the News: News Literacy Lessons for Digital Citizens (Coursera)

Never before has the need for News Literacy been more urgent. As news consumers are bombarded with a constant stream of fake news, propaganda, hoaxes, rumors, satire, and advertising — that often masquerade as credible journalism — it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. While the public’s faith in the news media erodes, purveyors of misinformation have helped give rise to troubling cultural trends and alarming political movements.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks