Avant Assessment

Eugene,  OR 
United States
http://www.avantassessment.com

• Booth: 2215

#Play4Proficiency and WIN prizes with Avant at booth 2215!

Language Assessment and Professional Learning Solutions

Avant offers proficiency and placement tests that cover a range of needs, languages, and ages. All of Avant’s online tests assess true language proficiency, generating reliable and accurate data.  They provide quick results, are easy to use, and are cost-effective. Available in more than 40 languages, the Avant STAMP computer-adaptive language proficiency tests are used by students, schools, state agencies, and individuals to qualify for State and Global Seals of Biliteracy, measure growth, certify teachers, and illustrate program quality.
 

Avant STAMP 4S, STAMP WS, and Arabic Proficiency Tests are now recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE). In addition, states are increasingly relying on the Avant STAMP for teacher certification such as in Illinois and Maine. Avant's placement tests quickly and accurately place students into appropriate courses. Avant offers affordable and flexible teacher training tools and professional development to help educators deepen their knowledge of the proficiency descriptors and implement data-informed curriculum practices.

Brands: Avant STAMP (grades 2-Adult), Avant STAMP WS, APT (Native Arabic Speakers), Avant PLACE (course placement), SHL (Heritage Spanish speakers). Teacher training: Avant ADVANCE and Avant MORE Learning

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• Free copy of What Makes Us Human book to the first 1000 Avant booth visitors! Booth #2215 (Sep 23, 2022)

  The first 1000 visitors to the Avant booth (#2215, across from the Wellness Studio) will receive a FREE copy of
  Dr. Victor D.O. Santos' book What Makes Us Human. 

  About the Author: Victor D.O. Santos, Ph.D., is Director of Assessment and Research for Avant Assessment and a professional linguist originally from Brazil. He lives with his Ukrainian wife in Iowa (USA), where they raise two multicultural and multilingual children. Victor has lived in 5 countries and studied 10 languages.
  
  About the Illustrator: Anna Forlati is an Italian illustrator currently teaching at the Ars in Fabula Illustration School in Macerata (Italy). She has always been fascinated by languages, having studied Ancient Greek and Latin from high school to college. She is currently learning Arabic.

  About the Book: Of the world’s approximately 7,151 living languages (Ethnologue, 2022), it is estimated that at least half will become extinct by 2100. And when a
  language dies, a culture may also die with it.* With the loss of every language, humanity itself loses something precious. Something at the very core of what it means to be human. The cultural, geographical, botanical, and philosophical knowledge encoded in that language and cherished by its users could be lost forever. In order to draw attention to the value of languages, UNESCO declared 2022–2032 the Decade of Indigenous Languages. Indigenous languages are among the most
  vulnerable, with many having only a handful of users left. Languages can be spoken, signed, and written. Being able to document a language through writing is one of the best ways to preserve its past and guarantee its future. Of the world’s languages, only about 57% are estimated to be written. Unfortunately, 85% of the world’s writing systems, several of which you have encountered in this book, are on the verge of vanishing (Endangered Alphabets Project, 2022). Every language is important. Every writing system is important. Every culture is important. The more languages, writing systems, and cultures our world has, the richer we all are as humans. This book is our humble contribution to the beautiful tapestry of our world’s languages, writing systems, and cultures and our way to pay homage to the amazing peoples behind them.

  *Avant Assessment, the leading provider of language proficiency assessments and professional learning solutions, offers testing in more than 40 languages. Avant is committed to access and equity through service to less commonly tested languages (LCTLs) such as Yup’ik and Zomi.

 Press Releases

• Avant Assessment and Bridges Oregon Collaborate on ASL Proficiency Test (Sep 20, 2022)

  UPDATED: August 25, 2022

  Eugene, OR— Avant Assessment, who delivered the world’s first online, computer-adaptive language proficiency test, and Bridges Oregon, a nonprofit organization serving Oregonians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing or face other communication barriers, are collaborating on the development of a STAMP online language proficiency assessment for American Sign Language (ASL). The assessment will evaluate the receptive and productive skills of second language learners of ASL. The receptive skills section of the assessment is expected to be available Fall of 2022 and the productive skills section added at a later date to be determined.

  A Shared Purpose to Support Access Through Language Learning

  Avant Assessment is dedicated to improving equity, access and understanding through the improved teaching and learning of languages. When Avant sought an expert partner in the ASL language and culture, they were pleased to find an organization just 50 miles away from their Eugene, Oregon headquarters. Located in Salem, Oregon, Bridges Oregon is one of only two organizations that delivers the National Sign Language Assessment (NSLA) which uses the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) to assess ASL interpreters. Bridges Oregon is the only dedicated Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and accompaniment services in Oregon. For every test purchased and delivered, a portion of the proceeds will be contributed to Bridges Oregon in support of their mission. Bridges Oregon has veteran non-hearing ASL K-12 teachers on their team who will be instrumental in providing guidance to the Avant test development team in building the assessment. In addition, Bridges Oregon will introduce ASL experts to be part of the team of Avant raters who review and rate individual test taker responses.  

  “As a visual language, ASL presents new test design and technology challenges for online assessment,” says David Bong, CEO of Avant Assessment, “and we are thrilled to now have Bridges Oregon’s expert support as we develop the test. ASL is a quickly growing language in schools and universities across the country. STAMP for ASL will meet the needs of ASL education programs and ASL learners by providing a way to obtain data that will support analysis and professional learning. This will support improvements in learning outcomes and enable learners to qualify for Seals of Biliteracy.” Avant’s ASL assessment will follow the same rigorous standards as all of the STAMP tests and be based on the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

  “Bridges Oregon looks forward to participating in this new opportunity with Avant and being able to witness a new technology milestone that allows an ASL assessment to be available through Avant’s innovative computer adaptive technology with support from our heritage language scoring assessment team,” says Chad A. Ludwig, Executive Director of Bridges Oregon, “and this partnership is significant as it increases resources to schools and universities.”

  About Avant Assessment

  Avant Assessment is dedicated to developing and delivering language proficiency solutions that improve the teaching and learning of languages. Education programs from elementary to Schools, universities, businesses, government organizations, and individuals around the world use Avant’s Assessments to award competency-based credits and credentials, analyze testing data to improve instructional outcomes, and identify areas for professional development to improve proficiency outcomes. Avant’s MORE Learning training and professional learning practice complements their assessments by providing training that supports programs that are striving to improve proficiency outcomes. For more than 20 years, Avant has delivered STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency), the world’s first online adaptive four-skill (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) language proficiency assessment, originally developed at the University of Oregon. Avant’s solutions are about real-world proficiency development, pairing innovative technologies with human expertise. For more information, contact Avant Assessment.

  About Bridges Oregon

  Bridges Oregon is a nonprofit for Oregonians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing or face other communication barriers. It is in our mission to facilitate equity and inclusiveness and to provide a bridge to opportunities through advocacy, education, and communication. For more information visit https://bridgesoregon.org.

• Avant STAMP Language Proficiency Tests Approved for College Credit Increasing Access and Equity (Sep 20, 2022)

  Eugene, OR— Avant Assessment, who delivered the world’s first online, computer-adaptive language proficiency test has just received the “stamp of approval” for the Avant STAMP 4S to qualify for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE). All 14 languages offered in the four-skill STAMP 4S tests have been recommended by the same educational body that has provided credit recommendations to institutions of higher education for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations, Cambridge Assessments, and ACT subject tests. This provides opportunities for students to earn credit or be placed in higher-level courses to advance their language skills. Included in the approved languages is the newly released STAMP Spanish Monolingual test, an assessment offered with the instructions, questions, and prompts all in Spanish. Spanish Monolingual is primarily used to assess the Spanish proficiency level of Spanish heritage speakers.

  Languages approved:
  Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified & Traditional), Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish, Spanish Monolingual, Arabic Proficiency Test

  Bridging K-12 to College Language Programs, Increasing Opportunities for Heritage and Home School Learners

  Students attaining at least a Novice-High level are eligible to receive an ACE-verified badge through Credly, ACE’s badging partner. The designation may be submitted to universities to request credit and/or advanced placement, added to resumes, social media profiles, and provided to employers as proof of proficiency.  Awarding of credit is at the discretion of the individual college or university. Avant is working with higher education institutions to determine equivalencies for their particular language programs. Details of the process to earn the ACE credential are in development and will be coming soon. Avant partners with institutions in both K-12 and higher education to bridge the gap between language learning in high school and college-level language programs– encouraging students to continue their language education far beyond the novice levels. As a learner’s language skills progress, they may re-assess with STAMP or APT to earn additional, higher-level badges.

  At the same time, heritage speakers and those learning at home will have this opportunity to demonstrate to institutions their language skills, which otherwise, are difficult to quantify outside of a traditional education system. “ACE is recognizing the rigorous standards that we hold our assessments to,” says David Bong, Avant Assessment CEO, “and at the same time helping us create opportunities for young language learners to be recognized by colleges and universities for their language skills.”

  What is the Avant STAMP Test?

  The Avant STAMP test measures Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking proficiency levels based on the U.S. ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.

  Education programs from elementary to college, as well as business and government organizations around the world use the Avant STAMP test to award competency-based credits and credentials, analyze testing data to improve instructional outcomes, and identify areas for professional development to improve proficiency outcomes.

  About Avant Assessment

  Avant Assessment is dedicated to developing and delivering language proficiency solutions that improve the teaching and learning of languages. Avant provides solutions for the entire proficiency improvement cycle including assessment, data analysis, training, and goal setting. Avant’s proficiency and placement tests, offered in more than 40 languages, cover a range of needs for individuals, schools, corporations, and governments for all ages. For more than 20 years, Avant has delivered STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency), the world’s first online adaptive four-skill (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) language proficiency assessment, originally developed at the University of Oregon. Avant’s solutions are about real-world proficiency development, pairing innovative technologies with human expertise. For more information, visit avantassessment.com/stamp-american-council-on-education-ace.

  About ACE

  The American Council on Education, or ACE, is a higher education membership organization that advocates for effective public policy and fosters innovative, high-quality practice.  Like Avant, ACE strives to improve equity, expand access to higher education, and promote diversity in institutional settings. ACE believes that quality education and training can come from a variety of sources including those through employers, independent online providers, certification exams, and apprenticeships. The ACE recommendation for credit or endorsement is awarded after an extensive review for college credit equivalencies and workplace competencies. For more information, visit acenet.edu.

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