For centuries, how we have assessed student learning has remained consistent with traditional school-based models of high-stakes testing. In most cases, these tests are designed to be taken within a physical setting. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for future diversity in the way students’ assessment of learning takes place. For too long, a single mode of assessment has been used to evaluate students’ learning.
Educators must begin to think outside the box to address this challenge. For example, a nursing program that requires students to be on-site for their intensive care assessment could modify this practice by using extended reality (XR). While XR may have its limitations, it will provide educators with the flexibility and opportunity to be ready for future life-changing events.
Similarly, educational institutions and testing companies should consider this current crisis as an opportunity to reflect on alternative modes of assessment. Though we should not completely move away from the traditional approach, these new procedures for the evaluation of student learning should consider contextualization, accommodation of needs, and flexibility in order to accommodate future crises since many institutions may not have the time or resources available for this transformation. Notwithstanding, it is now time to switch the traditional mode of assessment to a diverse model with greater flexibility. A starting point for an institution that conducts paper-based assessments would be to move to online assessments. Countries unable to provide online testing would need public investors to become partners and offer testing sites.
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