The eAA's review of 2024: A Year of Growth, Innovation, and Collaboration in e-Assessment

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Transformation in the e-Assessment World

The world of e-assessment has seen significant advancements over the years, with 2024 standing out as a year of remarkable progress, innovation, and collaboration. From the increasing role of AI in shaping learning and assessment to groundbreaking discussions on equity, accessibility, and digital transformation, this year has been pivotal for the sector. As we look back, we celebrate the milestones achieved, address the challenges that remain, and explore the opportunities that continue to shape the future of e-assessment on a global scale.

A year of continued innovation and excellence

This year marked the eighth annual International e-Assessment Awards, celebrating innovation and best practice in the field with finalists showcasing a diverse range of innovations. From AI-driven solutions like BCS's use of generative AI to assess open-response questions, to the British Council's Primary English Test which use gamified storylines to keep tests fresh and children engaged, the projects highlight how technology is tackling challenges in accessibility, scalability, and efficiency. Duolingo's research on improving test security and Mercer | Mettl's partnership with Sky Italy for workplace assessments further exemplify how e-assessment is advancing in both academic and professional settings. As Graham Hudson, Chair of the e-Assessment Association, aptly stated, "These entries reinforce the wealth of experience and creativity within the assessment community, demonstrating how technology continues to transform education globally."

Bringing Global Stakeholders Together to discuss key challenges

Bringing together leaders from diverse regions, 2024 National Examinations Roundtable was a critical global conversation on digital assessment. The discussions underscored that, while e-assessment offers promising advancements, challenges around equity, authenticity, and infrastructure need to be addressed to realise its full potential in national examinations. As eAA CEO Patrick Coates noted, this event marked a pivotal step in the global journey toward enhancing assessment through digital innovation. The exchange of experiences and insights from leaders across diverse regions highlighted the progress and the challenges we face as we move towards more inclusive, equitable, and effective assessment systems worldwide.

A wealth of advice and guidance

The e-Assessment Association continues to share best practices across the industry, emphasising the importance of robust processes and preparation in digital assessments. Our Online Proctoring and AI Special Interest Groups have brought together people from across industries and the world to discuss these key topics.

We have also shared many articles to provide guidance on areas of e-assessment. These include areas such as online proctoring and exam integrity with Talview explaining how tools like safe assessment browsers can create secure environments by restricting unauthorised activities during exams and actionable guides. In addition Prometric's strategies to combat modern cheating tactics and PSI's insights on addressing privacy concerns in online proctoring, ensure that providers can maintain fairness and integrity while respecting candidates' personal space and data. Practical advice also extends to risr/'s top tips for ensuring exam security.

Cirrus produced a two-part guide to help organisations to selecting the right e-assessment platform and Vretta's Digitalisation Review: provides a roadmap to examine current assessment practices, identify areas for improvement, and create a strategic plan to enhance digital capabilities.

AI

Artificial intelligence continues to redefine the e-assessment landscape, offering transformative opportunities to scale operations, enhance learning experiences, and ensure integrity. The eAA's AI Symposium and AI Special Interest Group explored critical areas such as AI in content and test development, test security, online proctoring, personalised assessment, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use.

AI-driven solutions are revolutionising item generation with resources like Prometric's guide to AI in test development and Excelsoft's insights, which demonstrate how AI can deliver consistency, quality, and uniqueness in item generation. Beyond efficiency gains, Graide highlighted best practice and potential pitfalls when implementing AI-assisted grading, ensuring its adoption enhances feedback and reduces workload effectively. Moreover, AI's role in improving test security underscores AI's potential to maintain assessment integrity in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.

Digital assessment reflecting changes in education and the workplace

A shift towards skills-based hiring has opened up new opportunities for assessments to replace traditional degree requirements, as highlighted by Prometric's insights into licensure and credentialing. This reflects a growing focus on measurable competencies and real-world skills that better align with workplace demands.

Dr. Richard Jones emphasises the transformative role of digital assessments in enhancing engagement and skill demonstration. By incorporating tools such as maps, diagrams, photographs, animations, videos, and audio-as well as technology-enhanced items (TEIs) including game-like simulations-learners are able to showcase their knowledge and abilities in more meaningful and practical ways.

Real-world examples, such as the Valencian Ministry of Education's collaboration with TAO, demonstrate how digital innovation can drive change at scale. By administering over 360,000 online exams, they revolutionised their student evaluation system while ensuring equal opportunities for all learners.

As AI and digital tools become increasingly integrated into education, it is critical that they enhance-rather than replace-the human aspects of teaching and learning. This message was central to the 2024 International e-Assessment Conference, themed "Keeping Our Humanity in the World of Digital Assessment". The event brought global focus to equity, accessibility, and ethical considerations, underscoring the importance of placing the learner at the heart of all innovation. By doing so, technology holds the potential to reshape learning and assessment in ways that are inclusive, impactful, and learner-centered.



A glimpse of the future?

While digital assessment is widely accepted across many areas, high-stakes assessments face challenges and risks in transitioning to digital. The announcement by Pearson that GCSEs and A-levels could have an on-screen option by 2030 and the UK Government's review of the Curriculum and Assessment system in England sparked widespread discussion about the potential for the future of digital exams. This transition is already a reality in many countries, and, closer to home, AlphaPlus, part of the AQA group, has successfully implemented adaptive formative assessments in Wales. This initiative demonstrates how technology can effectively scale best practice across large populations. Guided by research at every stage, the assessments provide timely, actionable insights for both educators and policymakers, ensuring alignment with national educational objectives.

eAA Chair Graham Hudson addressed this topic on the Exam Man podcast, where he discussed the shift from pen-and-paper to digital assessments, examining the pros, cons, and the likely path forward. Drawing on 40 years of experience in the sector, Graham provided both historical and current context, highlighting his involvement in major developments over that time.

In addition, this provided the e-Assessment Association to advocate for digital transformation in education and highlight four critical benefits of digital assessment in our submission to the UK Government's review of the Curriculum and Assessment system in England:

Improved Student Engagement: Real-time feedback and adaptive assessments ensure that learning remains challenging and relevant.

Reduced Teacher Workload: Automation frees educators to focus on high-value activities like personalised teaching.

Greater Inclusivity: Digital tools address diverse learning needs, including those of SEND students.

Enhanced Reliability and Data-Driven Improvement: AI-driven systems offer consistent marking, actionable insights, and system-wide enhancements.

A year of growth and unprecedented engagement for the eAA

2024 has also been an exceptional year for the e-Assessment Association, marked by unprecedented engagement and growth across our global community. Our website saw 201,600 visits, reflecting the increasing interest and relevance of digital assessment worldwide. On LinkedIn, we achieved 156,000 impressions and surpassed 3,000 followers, while our membership grew to over 5,000 members, supported by an extended e-assessment community of over 9,000 professionals. Audience engagement extended across key regions, with 54% from the USA and Canada, 24% from Europe, and 13% from India and Pakistan, reflecting the truly global influence of the eAA.

Our International e-Assessment Conference which included our inaugural National Examinations Roundtable and AI Symposium, brought together over 300 delegates from the UK, Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, fostering collaboration and innovation. The International e-Assessment Awards further demonstrated the eAA's reach and impact, with 26 exceptional finalists representing 12 countries. The quality of entries highlighted the transformative role of technology in education and assessment across diverse sectors, including schools, colleges, universities, workplace training, and technology providers.

This year has been a testament to the eAA's role as a hub for innovation, thought leadership, and community building, connecting professionals worldwide to drive the future of learning and assessment forward.

In 2024, we also took a significant step forward in our evolution by changing our structure to become a Company Limited by Guarantee. This change marks a pivotal moment as we prepare for the next stage of growth, reinforcing our commitment to promoting the effective use of e-assessment to support learning and evaluation. This new structure not only strengthens our foundation but also aims to encourage more key individuals from the industry to join our board, bringing fresh perspectives and providing strategic direction to shape the future of e-assessment.

In conclusion: Embracing innovation, collaboration, and humanity

As 2024 draws to a close, the e-Assessment Association reflects on a year of remarkable progress and meaningful dialogue in the world of digital assessment. From celebrating groundbreaking innovations through the International e-Assessment Awards to facilitating global discussions at the National Examinations Roundtable, this year has underscored the transformative potential of technology to reshape education and assessment.

Our role in uniting stakeholders, from awarding organisations, regulators and educators to assessment providers, technology experts and academics, has enabled us to address challenges like ethical considerations, accessibility, and data security while fostering confidence and trust in digital assessments. By sharing best practices and highlighting key advancements, such as AI-driven innovations and practical solutions for online proctoring, the eAA continues to lead the way in guiding the future of assessment.

However, the path ahead is as much about humanity as it is about innovation. Ensuring that learners remain at the heart of technological transformation and aligning digital tools with the core values of education is paramount.

Looking to the future, the eAA remains committed to advancing digital assessment in a way that is inclusive, reliable, and learner-centric. By bringing together a global community dedicated to shaping the future of education, we aim to ensure that technology is not only transformative but also equitable and empowering for all.

c/o AlphaPlus, c/o AQA Education Ltd, Devas Street, Manchester, M15 6EX

About the eAA

The e-Assessment Association plays a vital role in bringing together a global community of awarding organisations, assessment providers, technology experts, academics, and educational institutions dedicated to advancing the field of digital assessment. By fostering collaboration across these diverse stakeholders, we create a unique platform to share expertise, insights, and best practices that drive innovation and address the evolving needs of the assessment landscape.

This extensive network of professionals equips the eAA with a deep understanding of assessment technologies and their applications, enabling us to address complex challenges such as ethical considerations, accessibility, and the rapid pace of technological evolution. As digital assessment becomes more central to education and professional qualifications, our role in shaping this transformation ensures that it remains inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the highest standards of integrity.

Central to our mission is the eAA's unwavering commitment to fostering confidence and trust in digital assessments. This includes addressing critical issues like data security, ensuring assessments are accessible to all learners, and building frameworks that inspire trust among stakeholders. By creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration, we help guide the global assessment community toward solutions that not only meet today's demands but also anticipate future challenges, ensuring that digital assessments are secure, fair, and impactful for learners worldwide.

This release was published on openPR.