We have been working with SQA on this series of annual conferences for six years and this, the sixth conference and our fourth in Edinburgh,, was the most exciting and rewarding yet. The conference took “Technology and its role in Curriculum for Excellence” as its focus and at how technology can deliver benefits for the learner, the teacher or the school, college or training provider. It focussed on recent innovations in the use of technology and how these are now being adopted by users and by organisations such as SQA.
It is often said that learners achieve most when:
they are at the centre of their learning and understand clearly what they are trying to achieve and they are given feedback about the quality of their work and what they can do to improve
they are fully involved in deciding what needs to be done next and who can give them help if they need it
assessment and learning go “hand-in-hand” and feedback is available quickly
Curriculum for Excellence is designed to offer learners the maximum opportunity to develop knowledge, skills and attributes for learning, life and work. Technology has a significant role to play in providing this opportunity.
For those selecting, implementing or using computer based assessment (in all its forms) this is challenging and delivering the benefits daunting. There is an increasing expectation by students, employees, assessors and government that the technology will be available to use in a secure, robust and fit for purpose manner. As new technologies develop, the initial e-Assessment ideas are also being replaced by ideas that take assessment further away from its traditional forms.
Speakers this year included
Chair: Prof. Cliff Beevers, Professor Emeritus, Mathematics, Heriot-Watt University
Karen McCallum, Director of Operations, SQA
Sanjin Kaharevic, ICT in Education Programme, Scottish Government
Bob Gomersall, BTL
Carole Graham, Modern Languages Teacher at Tynecastle High School
Prof. Phillip John, SCHOLAR Programme, Heriot-Watt University
Lynda McBain, Curriculum Head for Care, South Lanarkshire College
For the latest developments in e-Assessment and computer based testing and assessment The e-Assessment-Question 9th annual conference 30th and 31st March 2011 at the America Square Conference Centre, London - click here to find out more about this exciting event
