Activities, assignments and assessment/Digital assessment



Assessment opportunities in the age of elearning

Cathy Gunn's presentation for AAAOpenConf2013

The range of assessment options has increased considerably with the evolution of elearning tools. Online exams, eportfolios, practice tests, group projects, simulations, intelligent tutors, learning analytics, student generated resources and automated marking assistants have become common features of the higher education landscape. Major institutions are taking MOOCs seriously, in the belief that open courses – massive or not - are a disruptive technology. The potential is only beginning to be explored, and some observers wonder if the investment will yield better returns than the open education trend of the early 2000s. Assessment will remain a challenge as long as formal accreditation, invigilation and institutionally defined pathways to achievement of objectives dominate the space.

The beginning stage of many learning innovations sees familiar things done in new ways. Thus most university courses are based around content, student activity is more or less directed by teachers and assessment is as much about measuring outcomes as promoting learning process. The tools listed above are just some of the available ways to make assessment more relevant and engaging within traditional course designs. Pedagogy remains the critical factor, and users of these tools are beginning to discover new opportunities for designs where learners take control, determine their own pathways and collaborate with whoever they choose. As is often the case, unexpected consequences are proving most productive.

An important question is: are institutions ready to embrace these innovations, and do they empower staff to explore the shifting landscape of e-assessment? Teachers can apply new educational concepts and technology skills to learning design, but institutional support is equally important. This talk explores the latest innovations in assessment and the conditions necessary for adoption and further development.