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DR KIERAN O'LOUGHLIN



Contact Details

Organization: Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Position: LECTURER IN TESOL
Email:
Homepage: http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/public/staff_profile.cgi?id=2058
Work: 8344-8345
Fax: 8344-8612
Room: 5:18
Level: 05
Building: Doug Mcdonell Building
Campus: Parkville

Biography

Kieran has over 25 years experience in the education sector as a teacher, teacher educator, manager and researcher. He specialisation is in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). He currently lectures on the postgraduate TESOL program, in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, supervises postgraduate students research projects and conducts his own research, Kieran's main research interests are in a) second language assessment, b) Teaching English for specific purposes, c) Teaching literature in second language classrooms, and d) social identities in second language learning and education more broadly. He has a particular interest in the use  of standardised English proficiency tests such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) versus teacher-based assessments of English competence and the interface between assessment and learning more broadly.

Kieran's most recent publications include:


Chapters in books 
*O’LOUGHLIN, K. (2007) The effects of gender in the IELTS oral interview. In L. Taylor & P. Falvey (eds.) IELTS Collected Papers: Research in speaking and writing assessment. Studies in Language Testing Volume 19. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: pp 63-95. ISBN:  9780521542487.

 *O’LOUGHLIN, K. & G. WIGGLESWORTH (2007) The effect of quantity and manner of presentation of information on candidate writing. In L. Taylor & P. Falvey (ed.) IELTS Collected Papers: Research in speaking and writing assessment. Studies in Language Testing Volume 19. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: pp 379-419. ISBN: 9780521542487.

Journal articles
*LARCOMBE, W., A. McCOSKER & K. O’LOUGHLIN (2007) Supporting research higher degree students to become confident academic writers: an evaluation of thesis writers’ circles. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice 4,1 pp 54-63. 

*O’LOUGHLIN, K. (2006) Learning about second language assessment: insights from a postgraduate student on-line forum.  University of Sydney Papers in TESOL 1,1: 71-85.

*O’LOUGHLIN, K. (2006) Coming to grips with assessment in TESOL: a personal perspective. TESOL in Context 16,1: 3-10.


Discussion papers
Murray, D. & K O’Loughlin (2007). Pathways: preparation and selection. Paper prepared for National symposium on the English competence of international students, Sydney, 14 August.

Newspaper articles
O’LOUGHLIN, K. “Language of market share”. The Australian Higher Education Supplement 21.03.07, p. 37.

Research Expertise and International Linkages

Research Expertise

Research Interest Country of Expertise
Second Language assessment Australia
Teaching English for Academic Purposes Australia
TESOL program evaluation Australia

International Linkages

Country Establishment Collaboration
United Kingdom University of Cambridge Research

Qualifications, Honours, Fellowships and Other Awards

Qualifications

Title Institution Date Awarded Abbreviation
Bachelor of Arts University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma in Education University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma (TESOL) Deakin University
Master of Arts University of Melbourne
Doctor of Philosophy University of Melbourne

Government Research Classifications

Research Fields, Courses and Discipline Classifications

Socio-Economic Objective Classifications

Grants and Contracts

Research Grants, Contracts and Consultancies awarded to the University of Melbourne as the administering institution (since 2003) as recorded in Themis Agreements.

Contracts

Title Role Funding Source Award Date
THE USE OF IELTS FOR UNIVERSITY SELECTION IN AUSTRALIA: A CASE STUDY Chief Investigator IELTS AUST 01/06/2005
INVESTIGATING IELTS EXIT SCORE GAINS IN HIGHER EDUCATION Chief Investigator IELTS AUST 10/05/2006
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND WORKPLACE READINESS Chief Investigator DEPT OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT & WORKPLACE RELATIONS,
DEEWR
12/06/2008

Additional Grant and Contract Information

Kieran is a member of Faculty-based team funded under the Education Faculty’s Collaborative Strategic Research Initiative to commence research program entitled “The emerging needs of knowledge economies in the Asia-Pacific region: implications for Australia”

Co-researcher with Dr Sophie Arkoudis on a project funded under IELTS Australia’s Competitive Research Grants scheme entitled “Investigating IELTS exit score gains in higher education”
Recent funded research projects include:
 Co-researcher with Associate Professor Catherine Elder on a project entitled “The feasibility of the Australian ELICOS sector adopting common language levels” as a consultancy for the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science & Training (DEST)

Co-researcher with Professor Joe Lo Bianco, Dr Sophie Arkoudis and Dr Kristina Love on a project funded by the Melbourne Research Grants Scheme (University of Melbourne) entitled “Schooling and the social identities of English learners”.

Principal researcher  on a project funded by the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education Competitive Grants scheme entitled “English language preparation for postgraduate study: the case of FELC”

Principal researcher on a research project funded by IELTS Australia entitled “The use of IELTS for university selection in Australia: a case study”

Co-researcher  with Dr So

Publications

Publications produced at the University of Melbourne and reported in the Annual Publications Collection and 'Research Report' since 2001. The Themis Publications module, released in November 2006, allows additional publications from previous institutions and publications from past years to be entered.

Publications in 2009

Publications in 2008

Book Chapters

  • Assessment at the Workplace
    Year: 2008
    Book: Language Testing and Assessment
    Publisher: Springer Science+Business Media(New York)
    Authors(s):
    Editors(s):

Journal Articles

  • The effectiveness of writing conferences in TESOL
    Year: 2008
    Journal: TESOL in Context
    Volume: 18
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 5-11
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Reports

  • The use of IELTS for university selection in Australia: A case study
    Year: 2008
    Customer: IELTS Australia
    Report No:: 8
    Publisher: IELTS Australia Pty Limited(Canberra)
    Authors:

Publications in 2007

Book Chapters

  • An investigation into the role of gender in the IELTS oral interview
    Year: 2007
    Book: IELTS Collected Papers: Research in Speaking and Writing Assessment
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press(Cambridge)
    Authors(s):
    Editors(s):
  • Investigating task design in Academic Writing prompts
    Year: 2007
    Book: IELTS Collected Papers: Research in speaking and writing assessment
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press(Cambridge)
    Authors(s):
    Editors(s):

Journal Articles

  • Supporting Education PhD and DEd students to become confident academic writers: An evaluation of thesis writers' circles


    Year: 2007
    Journal: Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice
    Volume: 4
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 54-63
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Reports

  • ELICOS Language Levels Feasibility Study: Final Report
    Year: 2007
    Customer: DEST
    Publisher: Department of Education Science and Training(Canberra)
    Authors:
  • Pathways - Preparation and Selection: a discussion paper
    Year: 2007
    Customer: Australian Education International, Department of Education, Science and Training
    Publisher: Department of Education Science and Training(Canberra)
    Authors:

Publications in 2006

Journal Articles

  • Coming to grips with assessment in TESOL: A personal perspective
    Year: 2006
    Journal: TESOL in Context
    Volume: 16
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 3-9
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.
  • Learning about Second Language Assessment:Insights from a Postgraduate Student On-line Subject Forum
    Year: 2006
    Journal: University of Sydney Papers in TESOL
    Volume: 1
    Page numbers: 71-85
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Publications in 2004

Journal Articles

  • Tensions between validity and outcomes: teacher assessment of written work of recently arrived immigrant ESL students
    Year: 2004
    Journal: Language Testing
    Volume: 21
    Issue: 3
    Page numbers: 284-304
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Publications in 2003

Journal Articles

  • English for Academic Purposes: Where are we now?
    Year: 2003
    Journal: EA Journal
    Volume: 20
    Issue: 2
    Page numbers: 17-24
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Reports

  • Investigating the Relationship between Intensive English Language Study and Band Score Gain on IELTS, Chap. 6 in International English Language Testing System Research Report 2003
    Year: 2003
    Customer: Intensive English Language Testing System
    Report No:: 4
    Publisher: IELTS Australia Pty Limited(Canberra)
    Authors:
  • Task Design in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: The Effect of Quantity and Manner of Presentation of Information on Candidate Writing, Chap. 3 in International English Language Testing System Research Reports 2003
    Year: 2003
    Customer: International English Language Testing System
    Report No:: 4
    Publisher: IELTS Australia Pty Limited(Canberra)
    Authors:

Publications in 2002

Journal Articles

  • The impact of gender in oral proficiency testing
    Year: 2002
    Journal: Language Testing
    Volume: 19
    Issue: 2
    Page numbers: 169-192
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.

Publications in 2001

Books

  • Studies in Language Testing. Experimenting with uncertainty. Essays in honour of Alan Davies.
    Year: 2001
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press(Cambridge)
    Authors(s):
  • The equivalence of direct and semi-direct speaking tests
    Year: 2001
    Publisher: Cambridge University Press(Cambridge)
    Authors(s):

Journal Articles

  • (En)gendering the TESOL classroom
    Year: 2001
    Journal: Prospect
    Volume: 16
    Issue: 2
    Page numbers: 33-44
    Publisher: National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.
  • AIDS awareness and discourse interpretation: The travel safe campaign
    Year: 2001
    Journal: Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
    Volume: 24
    Issue: 1
    Page numbers: 75-92
    Publisher: Applied Linguistics Association of Australia(Melbourne)
    Author(s):
    Super Search Source this item in the University's Catalouge locate this resource.
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