Section Introduction: Using Information Technology for Assessment: Issues and Opportunities

Abstract

The use of IT-enabled assessments has been increasing rapidly, as they offer promise of cheaper ways of delivering and marking assessments as well as access to vast amounts of assessment data from which a wide range of judgements might be made about students, teachers, schools and education systems. In many countries in recent years renewed focus on assessments to support learning has been pushing against the burgeoning of testing for accountability. This introduction to the section presents an overview of the six chapters which examine issues and opportunities for using IT-enabled assessments to support students in their learning as well as providing for the wider needs of education systems.