Randy Elliott Bennett, Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment
June 2002
The Journal of Technology, Learning and Assessment, which is based at Boston College and exists only on-line, has just published this 20-page article by Randy Elliott Bennett of Educational Testing Service, arguing that "the inexorable advance of technology will force fundamental changes in the format and content of assessment." It's essentially a think piece about the future of assessment in a high-tech era. The author contends that most uses that have so far been made of technology in assessment involve taking conventional testing formats and adapting them for computer-based administration. In the future, he says, assessments will have to match the cognitive and instructional processes by which learning itself occurs. In essence, that means that, as people do more of their learning via technology, assessment technologies will have to keep pace. This raises a host of issues involving costs, fairness, test security, and validity. He poses questions better than he answers them, but the piece includes an extensive bibliography and a 2-page chart showing how eight states are currently grappling in interesting ways with technology-based assessment. It won't blow you away but may lead you to ponder some new issues at the intersection of assessment, accountability and technology. You can find it at http://www.bc.edu/research/intasc/jtla/journal/v1n1.shtml.
