2022 E-ATP Conference: Understanding the Essence of Equitable Testing Experiences!
London, September 13, 2022: OpenEyes Technologies recently attended the E-ATP conference. We got an excellent opportunity to interact with thought leaders from Europe and around the world on how they are helping transform assessments.
The central theme of this year’s conference was to develop a prioritized roadmap to digitize the assessment administration process and create equitable testing experiences. Participants deliberated on how to assist organizations in providing better testing experiences while ensuring cost-effective implementation, sustainability, and maximum benefits. There is also a need to conduct thorough industry and institution-wide research-based planning and evaluation. This will result in continuous improvement in instructional quality, which will help to accomplish research, teaching, and service missions.
Emerging technologies give a complete and nuanced idea of the learner’s needs, interests, and abilities. This allows the assessors to personalize learning, a difficult feat with traditional assessments. Digitizing assessments will also improve the use of ongoing, formative, and embedded assessments that are less disruptive and more useful for improving learning.
Transforming Assessments with Technology
Disruptive technologies like AI, ML, and biometrics have improvised long-standing assessment approaches with newer and better test design and delivery techniques. Much work is left before using the assessment data to improve learning outcomes. Data systems used by assessment administrators don’t follow the interoperability standards that enable the secure sharing of information and data between assessors and learners. This leads to missing out on opportunities where one can use past data to personalize learning.
Technology can transform assessment from disjointed systems to an integrated system of assessments with personalization. This will help to meet the needs of both the assessor and the learner. AI can provide a variety of ways to build engaging assessment tools and platforms. Such as intelligent tutoring, stealth assessments, interactive games, virtual reality, and mini-tests that facilitate micro-learning. To truly reap the benefits of AI, we need more substantial investments in the research and development of these niche technologies.
According to Robert Pedigo, COO OpenEyes Technologies, ‘The assessment industry is undergoing massive shifts; we see more technology-powered assessments. The essence of AI in both summative and formative contexts forms the basis of Machine Learning. Here, the computer is taught to interpret data and patterns and is trained to take predetermined steps to interpret the data. Predictive analytics tools gather past and present data based on the user’s activity; the software can then identify and build learning behavior patterns for each user. However, the industry needs to be open and transparent while using AI. The challenges of the pandemic have transformed assessments, making a move to online assessment both beneficial and challenging. Online testing is no more just ‘good to have but a ‘must have.’
About OpenEyes Technologies
OpenEyes Technologies Inc. is an ISO 9001: Quality Management and ISO 27001: Information Security certified IT consulting, services, and business process outsourcing organization. We are a Small Minority Women Owned business offering custom software development and managed services to the non-profit, government organizations, and commercial sector.
About E-ATP
The European – Association of Test Publishers (E-ATP) is the Regional Division of the Association of Test Publishers (ATP) that brings European test publishers and assessment service providers with the professionals who depend on their products and services. ATP is global community addressing important issues related to testing, like data privacy, test security, intellectual property protection interoperability, and best practices for new and emerging testing methods and procedures.