If testing with a local mandate is

If testing with a local mandate is ecologically sensitive, it is highly likely that it will havea number of other distinguishing characteristics. Firstly, we would expect much of thetesting to be formative. That is, the act of testing is designed to play a role in the teachingand learning process, rather than to certify ultimate achievement. Secondly, the test islikely to be low-stakes. This means that any decisions made after the testing is completewill not have serious consequences for the person who has taken the test, for the teacheror for the school. Rather, the information from the testing or assessment procedure willbe used by the teacher and the learner to make decisions about what the most immediate learning goals might be, what targets to set for the next semester, or which classesit is most useful for a learner to attend. If mistakes are made, they are easily correctedthrough dialogue and negotiation. Thirdly, the testing or assessment procedures usedare likely to be created or selected by the teachers themselves, and the learners mayalso be given a say in how they prefer to be assessed. This ecological sensitivity therefore impacts upon how testing is used, the seriousness(and retractability) of decisions,and the involvement of the local stakeholders in designing and implementing tests andassessments