Some themes emerged during the conference as being important to all sectors as they look to ensure fairness, validity and accuracy within the testing and assessment process.
These included:
- A desire to use technology to automate the process of building, delivering and scoring tests;
- Using machine learning to bring efficiencies into the testing process and to improve validity and accuracy;
- Finding ways to fuse human knowledge, experience and expertise with technology, so that effective testing becomes even more efficient;
- Understanding that candidates are becoming more like consumers and that means they expect more of a customer-centric experience when they take a test.
The testing and assessment market is large, complicated and dynamic. The underpinning values will remain core to the industry, but the way in which they will be delivered is starting to change, and disruption is on its way.
At RM Results, we work alongside our customers to ‘lead the conversation’ in e-marking and high-stakes assessment. We continually invest in our RM Assessor product to enable our customers to deliver assessments that are fair, valid and accurate. We also work in partnership with other great companies such as BTL and PSI to provide integrated platforms that deliver tests to thousands of candidates across the world every day. Organisations such as ATP and the e-Assessment Association play a lead role in developing cross-industry forums and ideas that drive innovation and challenge in the industry.
The next chapter in the story of global testing and assessment is sure to contain more innovation, change and disruption as the industry responds to changes in society and technology.
As Matthew Luhn said in his keynote address ‘The Best Story Wins’. I’m sure that with the values of fairness, validity and accuracy at its core, the story of testing and assessment will continue to be a page-turner!
