Computer-marked assessment: Friend or foe?

Prof Sally Jordan: Online computer-marked assessment presents an opportunity to assess and provide personalised and immediate feedback to large classes, with savings of cost and greater consistency than human markers. It can motivate and engage students and provide information to educators about their students’ learning. However concerns are sometimes expressed as to the validity and authenticity of assessment of this type, and not all students like this method of assessment. Concerns have also been expressed as to the cost and time required to author high quality e-assessment items. Based on many years’ experience of the use of computer-marked assessment in STEM subjects and research into its effectiveness, this talk will challenge preconceived ideas and provide an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the limitations and benefits of assessment of this type. What can we do to provide engaging and robust assessment that supports our students’ learning?

About our Speaker

Sally Jordan is Professor of Physics Education at the Open University. More than 20 years ago, she was the first person at the Open University to employ online interactive computer-marked assessment in her teaching, and since then she has researched the use of questions in which free-text responses of up to about 20 words are automatically marked. However, she does not see computer-marked assessment as a panacea.