ACEC2012 Assessment Panel

Digital Forms of Assessment: a National and International Perspective

Aim• This panel discussion will consider initiatives to use

digital technologies to address problems with assessment in schools from lack of authenticity through to logistic and economic issues.

• The panel will tap into local and international expertise.

• Participants will be invited to contribute their knowledge and experience to develop a short list of concerns/requests to send to the national Minister for Education.

Assessment drives the curriculum

• What is assessed is critical.• Paper-based ‘exams’ fail to assess higher-order thinking, decision-making,

reflection, reasoning & problem solving• Very few real tasks are done on paper• Authentic assessment … aligns with pedagogy, flows from learning• High-stakes summative assessment tends to be poorly aligned to the

intent, objectives/outcomes and content.

President Obama (March 2011)“One thing I never want to see happen is schools that are just teaching the test, because then you’re not learning about the world, you’re not learning about different cultures, you’re not learning about science. All you’re learning about is how to fill out a little bubble on an exam and little tricks that you need to do in order to take a test – and that’s not going to make education interesting.”

Assessment 21st Century Skills• Patrick Griffin - opening keynote

Edutopia … Milton Chen• Assessment … a Core Strategy

USA - Recent Progress• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

had 24000 Year 8 and 28000 Year 12 students and some Year 4 students completing a computer-based writing test.

• Used word-processors and other tools on laptops with stimulus including audio files.

• Will soon do similar for technology and engineering exams.

e-AssessmentMr Matthew WingfieldBoard Member, e-Assessment Association (e-assessment.com)Managing Director, TAG Learning

W.A. Research 2007/8-2011• Worked with the Curriculum Council of WA• Funding from Australian Research Council Linkage Projects• Considered the assessment options of:

– Electronic Portfolio– Performance/Simulated Tasks Exam– Production Exam– Recorded Interview

• Focused on four courses: Applied Information Technology, Engineering Studies, Italian, Physical Education Studies.

• Brought together the three key innovations.(1) Digital representations of student performance.(2) Online repository for accessibility to markers.(3) Digital marking tools for standards-based and comparative pairs.

Assessment Hurdle … document to download from conference site

Where to from here?Concerns/Request to Relay to Minister for Education

What do we recommend given that assessment drives the curriculum and we are developing a new 21st Century Australian curriculum?

• What research in Australia and overseas can we draw on?• What are the main issues for ICT use and assessment?• What is the next step for Governments (state and

Commonwealth)?• What is our next step to encourage their next step?

Your IdeasUse any Google logon to post replies to the questions – anyone can join https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/acec2012_assessmentORhttp://tinyurl.com/acec-assess

OR just search in Google Groups for

acec2012_assessment Group name: ACEC2012 Assessment Panel