[lojban-beginners] lojban standardized test(s)

[John Leuner <jewel@pixie.co.za>]

The idea of a lojban test to determine proficiency and compare skills is
very appealing to me. 

To create a test like this you will have to depend on the experienced
lojbanists. I guess that before they will even consider contributing you
will have to demonstrate:

1) Usefulness 

(Why would material like this be more useful than other teaching
materials?)

2) Form

What is the most suitable form for this kind of test? Should it be
semi-automated? If so, what technologies are suitable for producing this
material?

One possible form is as a text-based adventure game (has this been done
already)?

3) Prototype

A simple prototype could be multiple-choice comprehension questions on a
short piece of text. 

4) Momentum

Like any volunteer effort you have to get a couple of people interested
who are willing to contribute to the project in the long-term. How will
this project mesh with the existing teaching materials and the creators
of those materials?

John Leuner


>         A test of Lojban literacy -- like an SAT for Lojban speakers.
>            -  Make it fine-grained, high-resolution. Four-digit score,
>         like SAT or chess
>               rankings?
>            -  Separate sections for grammar, vocabulary, reading
>         comprehension, etc.? 
>            -  Make most (all?) of it computer-gradeable.
>            -  Possible essay section? Could be computer
>         syntax-checked. Would have to be
>               human-graded for semantics.
>            -  Randomize the question content so you never take the
>         exact same test twice. 
>            -  Let the first test be free.
>            -  Let people take it every six months for a small fee
>         which supports LLG.
>            -  Discount for students, I'd say. Or even free for people
>         < 18.
>         
>         A test like this could provide 
>            - an objective indication of your own Lojban knowledge
>            - incentive to learn more
>            - playful competitiveness or bragging rights