As the number of students seeking higher education continues to rise, maintaining an engaging, seamless, personalized learning experience has become a key differentiating factor for universities in attracting and retaining top-notch students and faculty. With assessments presiding at the heart of the learning experience, implementing a modern testing solution can put your university a cut above the rest.
Digital assessment platforms are one of the fastest growing trends in the EdTech space, driving more meaningful, frequent, individualized assessments while saving time and providing deeper insights for instructors. Let’s dive into some of the key benefits of modern testing solutions that can help keep your university competitive.
Flexibility
Above all else, modern testing solutions provide the flexibility today’s students and instructors need. With a digital assessment platform, students are no longer required to take assessments within the physical constraints of the classroom; instead, they can take assessments whenever, wherever and however it best suits their learning, leveraging a range of assessment formats.
For example, modern testing solutions allow for diverse assessment options, such as:
- Multimedia assessment materials like photos and audio and video clips
- Simulation-based assessments assisted by augmented reality and virtual reality
- Summative assessments such as e-portfolios
- Interactive models, graphs, images and more
This diverse range of assessment options can be tailored to each student’s and course’s needs.
Modern testing solutions also provide flexibility in timing. Rather than waiting for the next meeting period to administer tests, digital assessments can be provided precisely when the timing is right, including:
- After an at-home learning exercise or extracurricular event
- Immediately following a review session
- Over the weekend before heading into the next chapter of content
Providing the right assessment at the right time ensures instructors get the best gauge of students’ understanding of the material.
Personalization
Modern testing solutions also enable more personalized assessment experiences. As we know, learning is not one-size-fits-all. However, many traditional testing models require all students to participate in the same, static assessment. By leveraging adaptive digital assessments, instructors can administer tests that respond to students’ unique needs and understanding of the material.
For example, if a student is excelling in one subject area of the assessment, an adaptive assessment platform will move on to different subject matter. If a student appears to be struggling with a given subject, the platform can provide additional testing material on the topic to determine exactly where their knowledge gap lies. This information is invaluable to students and instructors, providing deeper insights into where course material could be improved and shedding light on how instructional time should be spent moving forward.
Additionally, modern testing solutions can support student testing accommodations in ways that traditional testing cannot. When evaluating digital assessment solutions, keep an eye out for the following accessibility features:
- Support for assistive technology, like screen readers
- Consistent interface across the experience
- Flexible options for navigation
- Logical sections for headings and titles
- Contrasting text and color use
- Descriptive text for test items and visual elements
Integrity
Perhaps top-of-mind for most instructors and administrators is the integrity of modern testing solutions. Thankfully, many digital assessment platforms have layered security and authentication features, such as:
- Video proctoring capabilities
- ID verification and computer restrictions
- Restricted outside internet access
- Reduced screen capture and screen sharing abilities
- Limited, secure exam access points
Additionally, tools that are certified for interoperability under the IMS Global Standards will keep student assessment data protected throughout your entire EdTech stack, eliminating the risk of attacks or leaks as data passes through each application.
Efficiency
The process of creating, administering, scoring and uploading manual test results can be incredibly time-consuming for instructors, limiting the amount of assessments they can realistically assign during the course of instruction. With a modern testing solution, test administration, grading and data transfers are automated, saving significant time for instructors.
With these time-savings, instructors can issue more frequent assessments, proactively identifying areas for additional support on a per-student, per-unit and per-course basis. Likewise, these frequent assessments give students a better understanding of their individual performance throughout the course, empowering them to seek additional help well in advance of them falling behind.
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As universities continue to modernize and adapt to the needs of today’s education environment, finding the right testing solution is critical. With a modern testing solution, students are empowered with the flexibility and personalization they need, and instructors can leverage the integrity and efficiency of their assessments to make informed, proactive instructional decisions.
To learn more about EdTech in higher education, read our blog post, 3 Remote Learning Strategies for Higher Ed or speak to one of our specialists to find the right testing solution for your institution.
