Inexorably and across several fronts screen-based assessment is becoming a major part of the experience of university students particularly but not exclusively in the sciences. This movement reflects the emphasis the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is giving to the development of screen-based assessment at secondary level where the universal availability of an e-assessment option in high stakes exams is an adopted goal1.
The drivers for this change are economic pedagogic and opportunistic. Rapid technological progress is facilitating the wider availability of computer based tasks that reflect authentically the learning outcomes of science courses. There is growing experience in the design of such tasks with increasing commercial involvement particularly in the USA. An examination of theories of assessment demonstrates that there are sound pedagogic reasons to pursue these developments.
The main focus of this review will be assessment for which a computer acts as a means of delivery grading and feedback. I will outline the capabilities of contemporary systems illustrate some good practice and identify areas where the use of the technology is moving forward rapidly. There are exciting developments in the grading of free format responses in diagram or text form which are now emerging on a pilot basis. Of particular interest is the assessment of higher order cognitive and subject skills. Also important is the potential for item banks that can allow the sharing of the costs of authorship. Several of these issues are reviewed more fully in Conole and Warbuton2.
Finally I will comment briefly on assessment that is facilitated by computers without the computer acting as a grading tool. At a mundane level this might involve the electronic submission of traditional assignments. Of more interest are electronically mediated peer assessment the generation of e-portfolios the grading of screen based experimentation and the evaluation of the student’s performance in contributing to computer based group activities eg Wikis electronic conferences etc.
