Toward a Reconceptualization of Second Language Classroom Assessment : Praxis and Researcher-Teacher Partnership

Toward a reconceptualization of second language classroom assessment (edited by Poehner and Inbar-Lourie, 2020) uses a praxis prism derived from critical traditions to demonstrate "a potential way forward in L2 classroom assessment research and practice that envisions them as existing in a bidirectional, reciprocal relationship" (p.1).The necessity for this potential alternative arises from the challenges identified in previous studies, which are rooted in the two main philosophical foundations commonly used in L2 assessment research: post-positivism and interpretivism.Readers witness how researcher-practitioner dialectical partnerships empower teachers through the case studies presented in the book chapters.Researchers provide assessment theories that foster teachers' development of assessment literacy, enabling them to tailor their assessments to fit their local contexts.Through these partnerships, teachers transition from passive consumers of standardized assessments to active creators of formative classroom assessments.There are 12 chapters in the book.Chapter 1 discusses three philosophical foundations: post-positivism, interpretivism, and critical theories.Each of the subsequent chapters, from Chapter 2 to Chapter 12, presents a case study where researchers and practitioners collaborate to transform L2 assessment practices.The eleven chapters are written by various researchers who conducted their studies using critical theories, an alternative approach proposed in Chapter 1.The chapter authors illustrate how they, as researchers, developed empirically proven theories, while practitioners reconceptualized and enhanced their L2 classroom assessments through the collaborative partnerships.Theoretical support through collaboration with researchers enables practitioners to explicitly reflect on their practices, diagnose issues, develop conceptual understanding, explore alternative ways to assess students, and Ehean Kim