E-Assessment

E-Assessment provides additional ways to engage and motivate learners as well as to help embed the digital literacy skills important for future employability. It provides greater opportunities for personalised and blended learning and assessment as well as an alternative and more accessible methodology for delivering effective feedback.

Assessment can occur at many times during learning and can be simplified into three areas; Initial, Formative & Summative.

• Initial Assessment – occurs at the beginning of a lesson or activity to assess learner’s current knowledge.
• Formative Assessment – should be considered as ongoing and self-monitoring and be developed to both challenge and move learners forward.
• Summative Assessment – should consolidate the learning achieved up to that point and provide a benchmark for further progression.

This assessment cycle can be adapted for any part of a lesson, task, activity or programme of study. It may occur in a single 1 hour lesson and would show the learning distance travelled. Electronic Assessment, or E-Assessment, methods can be embedded throughout all of these phases of the cycle.

Exploring E-Assessment

Use of e-assessment can enhance the assessment procedure whilst offering:

• Greater learner engagement
• More flexible in timing and location of assessment
• Authenticity and accountability
• Variety in the design of assessments
• Better capture of learners skills and knowledge
• Immediate feedback to the learner
• Efficiency with delivery, assessment and marking

E-Assessment Methodology & Tools

There are a range of electronic methods that can be utilised to deliver e-assessments but some consideration should be given to the appropriateness of each method in the context of your subject area. Evidence can be generated and displayed in several different ways. The following Tools and Methods show a variety of assessment methods.

Including:

• Video, Audio & Photo Based Assessment
• E-Coursework or E-Portfolios
• Collaborative Tools
• Online Assessment software
• Digital Storytelling

Many, if not most, of these tools are available in a range of formats across all major mobile devices and computers thus increasing accessibility.

Further guidance is available with the E-Assessment Guidance booklet available from the Group Head of E-Learning