AQA Future Forum

A wide range of education stakeholders participated in the first AQA Technology Enabled Assessment for Learners (TEAL) Future Forum in London last week attracting speakers from organisations with a keen interest in the future of assessment.

As an educational charity, one of AQA's key objectives is to improve qualifications and services to meet the future needs of young people, teachers, schools, further and higher education and the ever changing workplace. By definition this includes equipping young people to meet the Skills Agenda and fulfil the jobs of the future that do not yet exist. Our response to this challenge is to set up a programme of work and developments known as TEAL.

The TEAL programme is already delivering on-screen testing (OST) products. We are already offering GCSE science tests using technology developed for the Key Stage 3 NCT ICT tests. Learners at centres who are taking part in our Functional Skills pilots are also able to take their tests on screen. In the summer 2009 we will offer OST for some Diploma components.

 

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A wide variety of technology is now being used in schools but the view is increasingly being expressed that this is mainly to transfer existing practices and to enhance some areas of internal communication. The question of how assessment should develop to meet the needs of young people and how technology can enhance this is not being fully addressed.

By bringing together a wide variety of people who have an interest in this future and ideas to share, we aim to start a debate to continue at future events to help develop the future of assessment and determine a vision.

Speakers at this first TEAL event included Dr Jonathan Sharples from the Institute of Effective Education at the University of York and Dr Richard Sandford from Futurelab. The forum was chaired by Andrew Bird, AQA Deputy Director General.