AQA to launch major on-screen assessment pilot

[Max_Power]

AQA to launch major on-screen assessment pilot - https://www.aqa.org.uk/news/aqa-to-launch-major-on-screen-assessment-pilot

 

Just wondering if anyone on here has been asked to be part of the 100 school trial?

[dmj]

Interesting, I recall having a meeting with the CTO (or CEO, I forget) of one of the exam boards a few years back about online exams shortly after we launched 1:1 devices.

I clearly remember him saying that most exam boards were really on board with on screen exams ( it would save them ££££ in marking) but there wasn't the political will from government, as the public would see 'online' as 'watering down/cheating' and hte exam boards had their hands tied by govt.

I guess the pandemic has shifted that political opinion.

[paulkerton]

I clearly remember him saying that most exam boards were really on board with on screen exams ( it would save them ££££ in marking) but there wasn't the political will from government, as the public would see 'online' as 'watering down/cheating' and hte exam boards had their hands tied by govt.

I guess the pandemic has shifted that political opinion.

The Government seem to have a general "What are they doing in America/Australia/Scandanavian Countries" model to policy making.

Considering all three have moved towards digital assessments, it was inevitable we would eventually.

[Ditto]

AQA to launch major on-screen assessment pilot - https://www.aqa.org.uk/news/aqa-to-launch-major-on-screen-assessment-pilot

 

Just wondering if anyone on here has been asked to be part of the 100 school trial?

I worked for AQA and predecessors for a decade, but that was over 20 years ago! I recall applying for a post, probably around 2010 and they were exploring it then and i believe possibly earlier than that. If it happens, it's been a very long time coming.

[AlistairB1983]

Interesting, I recall having a meeting with the CTO (or CEO, I forget) of one of the exam boards a few years back about online exams shortly after we launched 1:1 devices.

I clearly remember him saying that most exam boards were really on board with on screen exams ( it would save them ££££ in marking) but there wasn't the political will from government, as the public would see 'online' as 'watering down/cheating' and hte exam boards had their hands tied by govt.

I guess the pandemic has shifted that political opinion.

There was an interview years back (2015? 2016?) on I believe BBC radio with one of the senior members of one of the exam boards (either AQA or OCR) basically saying the same thing - it was inevitable that exams were going to head in that direction as that's the direction life in general has moved and they needed to become more relatable with what goes on in the outside world.

[Reverend_Dan]

Has anyone received a survey email from the AQA today about the on-screen assessments. If you dont have an account with them could be worth popping down to your exams officer before they fill it in or getting yourself signed up for an account.

 

I pointed out some helpful things out like 1:1 not being possible in our school. Computers in suites too close to be used to capacity staying fit for exam standards. Would only work well if there was one standard interface across all exam boards. Speak to people like us.

 

 

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As you may already know, AQA has launched a significant pilot of on-screen GCSE assessments.

To support these essential trials, we invite technicians in UK schools to participate in a series of focus groups and/or complete an in-depth survey.

and it will take approx 5 minutes to complete. Upon completion, you will be invited to express interest in joining one of our incentivised focus groups. Each focus group attendee will be paid £70 for their time.

AQA are taking the development of on-screen assessments (OSA) very seriously and would like to hear your views and ideas for a future with or without on-screen assessment (OSA).

[Andycat]

Yes I filled it in saying currently not possible for us.

[Ketlane]

There are some interesting possibilities here which may dodge some of the problems that we can foresee. I've used adaptive admission testing software - it doesn't give the same questions to everybody, instead it responds to their answers - so if the candidate does well on a question, the next one set is of a slightly higher level; conversely if they struggle, the next one served up will be easier. Software adjusts as it goes along. So looking at your neighbour's screen won't help much as they'll have different questions. With a big enough question bank the testing could be on demand, so making an end to everyone doing GCSE Maths Paper 1 on Thursday at 9 a.m.

I can see this working with relatively closed questions; how it could possibly handle an A Level Shakespeare essay I'm not so sure!

I think this will come eventually, possibly quite soon - if everything else goes digital, exams must follow.