Technology Assisted Student Assessment Research

Summary

The purpose of this project was to inform policymakers about the state of technology assisted educational tools. The Technology Assisted Student Assessment Institute (TASA) is a research center dedicated to providing up-to-date information on programs, strategies, outcomes, best practices and policy implications for implementing new technology in K-12 schools. In this first phase of the TASA project, researchers documented international and national trends, prototypes, and evidence of technological effectiveness. This project was the first phase of a larger project that sought to identify, pilot and evaluate computer assisted assessment models.

Grant Outputs

Innovations in Testing for Canadian Schools (Conference) –

This conference was held to discuss the findings of the study “A Future in the Process of Arrival,” and to develop research collaborations in the field of assessment technology. It was attended by education officials, school district leaders, researchers and technology companies. The goal was to create a forum to share cutting edge technological developments, identify practical issues in implementing technology in school assessment, and to serve as a catalyst for further development in computer-based learning and assessment technologies.

A Future in the Process of Arrival: Using computer technologies for the assessment of student learning – http://maxbell.org/sites/default/files/029.pdf

This report presents a number of findings related to technology assisted learning. It provides an overview of trends and emerging best-practices related to computer-based assessment in Canada and the United States with applications for K-12 learning. The report finds that many jurisdictions are moving towards technology-based learning because of its cost effectiveness, but that substantial improvements in teaching and learning outcomes may also result from digital education. It suggests that students are often taught using a variety of media, and it is therefore advisable that they be tested on their comprehension using these same media in an effort to close the gap between instruction and assessment. There is potential for computer based testing to cater to special needs students and students with disabilities. Digital learning tools provide a platform for students to learn and be tested at different times, and to receive personalized immediate feedback as they prepare for examinations.