This is not as simple a question as it might appear. e-Assessment or Computer Based Testing and Assessment or Computer Assisted Assessment means many things to many people, and comes under many different names and titles. It embraces the use of Information Technology for any activity which involves the assessment of skills, knowledge, understanding, competency or aptitude. It is used in formal qualifications, to support learning, to collect evidence of competency and achievement, in diagnostic testing of learning in in many other similar applications.

In the broadest view it covers virtually all aspects of assessment activity where the computer is used to deliver a task, or set of tasks and questions, and then collect, store the response an allow them to be evaluated or marked.

This includes set assignments and coursework as much as the more obvious and common on-line test. It could also involve capture of work originally on paper that is scanned in to a computer and then marked by some combination of human markers or the electronic markers.

Where questions or tasks are delivered to candidates via a computer terminal this typically involves some combination of the following six stages

• develop

author, develop and  store questions or tasks in an item bank or repository

• produce

assist the selection of a subset of questions or tasks, and gather together in an electronic paper or assignment

• deliver

display of computer stored questions or tasks

• process

collect responses from candidates in a controlled and secure manner

• mark

by computer or support human marking of responses

• feedback

return results to candidates and administration systems

In fact it fits into a range of areas of work among others including:

• e-Learning - as the method of measuring progress on a course of study,
• electronic portfolios - as means of developing and holding course work or material for a set assignment,
• computer based examination administration - to hold registrations, entries and results of qualifications, examinations and tests,
• EDI and data transfer - as a means of transferring large volumes of data between computer systems in a quick, fool proof and auditable manner, and
• OMR response/data collection systems

Computer Based Assessment and Testing can be used as part of high stakes qualifications (such as publicly accredited qualifications) and low stakes assessment within the classroom, workplace or at home.

There are many solutions, but many demonstrate the same benefits to learner, instructor and administrator alike.

1. Provides more flexibility than pen and paper
2. Question types can include multimedia material
3. Document management techniques can be used to organise and store questions and question papers.
4. Marking can be speeded up and even automated in many situations
5. Easy and secure distribution of assessment material
6. Capability of providing instant feedback to the candidate both for individual questions, but also for the whole test or task if marked automatically
7. Automatic links possible to central record keeping systems
8. Ability to deliver on demand formative or even summative tests
9. New educative and/or motivational experience for the candidate
10. Provides opportunity for adaptive tests that respond to the candidates answers
11. Re-use and Cloning of tests
12. Use of randomisation and individualisation of tests and tasks.
13. Link to e-Learning facilities
14. Professional feedback to administrators, teachers or trainers
15. Analysis of responses to question level

Click below for more about the e-Assessment Association

The 2011 AGM of the e-Assessment Association will be held at the end of day one session of the conference

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