Teachers' perceptions of on-line rater training and monitoring

Developments in multimedia technology have now made it possible for assessor training to operate through computer-mediated communication rather than by conventional paper-based, face-to-face processes. This paper describes a pilot on-line system of rater training developed at Hong Kong Polytechnic University to support the English Language Centre's English for Academic Purposes and English in the Workplace subjects. The paper also presents the findings from a project which investigated raters' attitudes towards assessment and rater training, and evaluated the pilot on-line rater training programme in terms of its accessibility and usefulness for rater training. Data were collected from questionnaires, think-aloud protocols and interviews. Findings and implications for research into, and the practice of computer-mediated communication and rater training are discussed.