A series of four online training events on Challenges of Classroom Assessment Online has been delivered in November and December for Ukrainian university teachers and members of the Ukrainian Association for Language Testing and Assessment (UALTA). The events were organised and facilitated in collaboration with UALTA by Dr. John Pill, lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and English Language (LAEL), and Dr. Olena Rossi, former ESRC post-doctoral research fellow in the department.

The researchers originally received funding from the European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA) to deliver in-person training in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in 2020, but this was postponed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. "In the current circumstances, we wanted to support Ukrainian teachers in their commitment to providing effective teaching and assessment for their students, despite ongoing disruption to everyday life, internal displacement and forced emigration," they explained. "Through EALTA's 'support Ukraine' initiative, Ukrainian teachers asked for online workshops and we were able to help."

Up to 50 participants joined the online events. Dr. Chihiro Inoue and Dr. Meg Malone, both international experts in language assessment, presented on classroom assessment for speaking and writing, respectively. "These inspiring speakers prompted a great deal of useful sharing and discussion in the Q and A after each talk and in the two follow-up workshops that we have run," said the organisers.

Feedback has been very positive: "Great presenters, and a thought-provoking discussion! I enjoyed participating in the workshop to the full! Thank you!”