The Listening-Speaking components of Summit K12’s Connect to Literacy programs provide automated grading of student voice recordings. Students will submit audio recordings for specific activities and Summit K12 will grade those recordings using Artificial Intelligence and algorithms designed to follow the TELPAS Speaking Scoring rubrics.
Students will be graded according to the 5 scoring categories:
- Completeness of Response
- Syntax / Sentence Structure, Grammar
- Vocabulary / Word Choice
- Pronunciation and Fluency
- Use of L1
Note that the above categories are weighted differently to create the combined score for an item.
Completeness of Response
The student’s measure of their completeness of response will be graded by measuring factors such as recording duration as well as word count. Students are encouraged to answer questions as thoroughly as possible to receive full scores.
Syntax / Sentence Structure, Grammar
The scoring of syntax / sentence structure and grammar is largely dependent on the usage of words that facilitate proper sentence structure. Usage of terms that allow more complicated ideas to be expressed will result in higher scores.
Examples:
- Coordinating conjunctions
- Subordinating conjunctions
- Correlative conjunctions
- Relative pronouns
- Conjunctive adverbs
Vocabulary / Word Choice
The scoring of vocabulary and word choice depends on two main categories of vocabulary. Each question has specific words identified for that question based on both the content of the question as well as the question type and structure.
Scoring is also based on the usage of high frequency words, high frequency phrases, and academic vocabulary. The greater that students correctly use these terms as well as the question specific vocabulary, and the more unique words that they use, the better they will score in this category.
Pronunciation and Fluency
The category of pronunciation and fluency is scored based on both the frequency and duration of pauses in the recording as well as the amount of unrecognizable words. Students who are able to formulate their responses before they begin recording so that they have fewer pauses, ums, ahs, and unrecognizable words will be able to score well in this category.
Use of L1
The student’s response should be entirely in English in order to receive the highest score possible. Words recognized as other languages and not recognized as English will detract from the scoring of this category.