However, getting the best out of psychometric tests requires one to have a concrete understanding of what they are, how they work, and why you need them.  This article, therefore, aims to provide you with the fundamentals of psychometric testing, the benefits, and everything else you need to know.

Psychometrics refers to a field of study associated with the theory and technique of psychoeducational measurement.  It is not limited to the topic of recruitment and careers, but spans all assessments, from K-12 formative assessment to addiction inventories in medical clinics to university admissions.

Interested in talking to a psychometrician about test development and validation, or a demo of our powerful assessment platform that empowers you to develop custom psychometric tests?

What is a psychometric test?

Psychometric tests are different from other types of tests in that they measure a person’s knowledge, abilities, interests, and other attributes. They focus on measuring “mental processes” rather than “objective facts.” Psychometric tests are used to determine suitability for employment, education, training, or placement, as well as the suitability of the person for specific situations.

A psychometric test or assessment is an evaluation of a candidate’s personality traits and cognitive abilities. They also help assess mental health status by screening the individual for potential mental disorders. In recruitment and job performance, companies use psychometric tests for reasons such as:

• Make data-driven comparisons among candidates
• Making leadership decisions
• Reduce hiring bias and improve workforce diversification
• Identify candidate strengths and weaknesses
• Help complete candidate personas
• Deciding management strategies

The different types of psychometric tests

The following are the main types of psychometric assessments;

Personality tests

Personality tests mainly help recruiters identify desirable personality traits that would make one fit for a certain role in a company. These tests contain a series of questions that measure and categorize important metrics such as leadership capabilities and candidate motivations as well as job-related traits such as integrity or conscientiousness. Some personality assessments seek to categorize people into relatively arbitrary “types” while some place people on a continuum of various traits.

‘Type focused’ Personality tests

Some examples of popular psychometric tests that use type theory include the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the DISC profile.  Personality types are of limited usefulness in recruitment because they lack objectivity and reliability in determining important metrics that can predict the success of certain candidates in a specific role, as well as having more limited scientific backing. They are, to a large extent, Pop Psychology.

‘Trait-focused’ personality types

Personality assessments based on trait theory on the other hand tend to mainly rely on the OCEAN model, like the NEO-PI-R. These psychometric assessments determine the intensity of five traits; openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and Neuroticism, using a series of questions and exercises. Psychometric assessments based on this model provide more insight into the ability of candidates to perform in a certain role, compared to type-focused assessments.

Cognitive Ability and Aptitude Tests

Cognitive ability tests, also known as intelligence tests or aptitude, measure a person’s latent/unlearned cognitive skills and attributes.  Common examples of this are logical reasoning, numerical reasoning, and mechanical reasoning.  It is important to stress that these are generally unlearned, as opposed to achievement tests.

Job Knowledge and Achievement tests

These psychometric tests are designed to assess what people have learned.  For example, if you are applying for a job as an accountant, you might be given a numerical reasoning or logical reasoning test, and a test in the use of Microsoft Excel.  The former is aptitude, while the latter is job knowledge or achievement. (Though there is certainly some learning involved with basic math skills).

What are the importance and benefits of psychometric tests?

Psychometric tests have been proven to be effective in domains such as recruitment and education. In recruitment, psychometric tests have been integrated into pre-employment assessment software because of their effectiveness in the hiring process. Here are several ways psychometric tests are beneficial in corporate environments, along with Learning and Development (L & D);

Cost and Time Efficiency- Psychometric tests save organizations a lot of resources because they help eliminate the guesswork in hiring processes. Psychometric tests help employers go through thousands of resumes to find the perfect candidates.

Cultural fulfillment- In the modern business world, culture is a great determinant of success. Through psychometric tests, employees can predict the types of candidates that can fit into their company culture.

Standardization- Traditional hiring processes have a lot of hiring bias cases. However, psychometric tests can level the playing ground and give a chance for the best candidates to get what they deserve.

Effectiveness– Psychometric tests have been scientifically proven to play a critical role in hiring the best talent. This is mainly because they can spot important attributes that can’t be spotted by traditional hiring processes.

In L&D, psychometric tests can help organizations generate important insights such as learning abilities, candidate strengths and weaknesses, and learning strategy effectiveness. This can help re-write the learning strategies, for improved ROI.

What makes a good psychometric test?

As with all tests, you need reliability and validity.  In the case of pre-employment testing, the validity is usually one of two things:

1. Content validity via job-relatedness; if the job requires several hours per day of Microsoft Excel, then a test on Microsoft Excel makes sense
2. Predictive validity: numerical reasoning but not be as overtly related to the job as Microsoft Excel, but if you can show that it predicts job performance, then this is helpful.  This is especially true for noncognitive assessments like conscientiousness.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that psychometric tests are important in essential aspects of life such as recruitment and education. Not only do they help us understand people, but also simplify the hiring process. However, psychometric tests should be used with caution. It’s advisable to develop a concrete strategy on how you are going to integrate them into your operation mechanism.

Ready To Start Developing Psychometric tests? 

ASC’s comprehensive platform provides you with all the tools necessary to develop and securely deliver psychometric assessments. It is equipped with powerful psychometric software, online essay marking modules, advanced reporting, tech-enhanced items, and so much more! You also have access to the world’s greatest psychometricians to help you out if you get stuck in the process!

The post What is a psychometric test?  appeared first on Assessment Systems.

In 2020, things took a turn for the worse as many institutions struggled to implement digital transformation as a response to the pandemic. Coupled with the common misconception that cheating in online exams is easier than traditional exams, everything became catastrophic.

However, this is not a true reflection of cheating in online exams. Is cheating in online exams easy as the students perceive it to be? No. Just like in-person exams, online exams have some loopholes that students can exploit for academic gains.  But, these loopholes can be mitigated using the right online assessment software and strategies.  Perhaps the most important technology is remote proctoring, which has seen an incredible boom during the pandemic.

This blog post, therefore, aims to accomplish the following:

• Discuss how students cheat in online tests
• Provide you with tips and ideas on how to deter and detect cheating

There are two pathways to dealing with academic dishonesty and cheating: Deter and Detect.

Deter: Make it harder to cheat, or put punishment policies in place that make examinees avoid cheating. Examples include lockdown browser and remote proctoring.

Detect:  Find cheating that has already happened, such as psychometric forensics (download free software for that here), or reviewing a proctor video.

With exam security, experts follow the adage of “A pound of prevention is worth an ounce of cure” so deterrence is important.  However, before going forward, let’s define academic dishonesty and cheating, and discuss some definitions.

Need an online exam platform with more security?

Request a free account or demo with FastTest.
Quickly publish high-quality exams with remote proctoring: live, recorded, or AI.

What is academic dishonesty and exam cheating?

Cheating refers to actual, intended, or attempted deception and/or dishonesty in relation to academic or employment-related assessments.  It is is only one part of the larger issue of test integrity; there are other issues, such as teacher help on K-12 summative tests or “faking good” on personality assessments.

Cheating In Online Exams; Misconceptions Vs Reality

Here is a simple infographic to demonstrate the common misconceptions on cheating in online exams.

7 ways of cheating in online exams and how to catch or deter them

 
1. Impersonation (proxy tester)

Impersonation refers to the act of asking or hiring someone else to take an exam on your behalf. This is not a new trick and has also been used in traditional assessments. In online assessments, the risks are even higher. Impersonation can take place in two stages of the examination delivery process; before and during the assessments.

Before the assessments, students share their login details with the imposter. The login details vary depending on the software in use. However, some online proctoring software easily makes this impossible by using advanced identification features such as biometrics or facial recognition systems. Impersonation during the exam process can take place in many ways. One trick used by students is providing remote access to their imposters through tools such as virtual machines. This sounds like something pulled out of a spy movie, but you wouldn’t believe what students are willing to do to avoid failure.

Impersonation is a common act of exam cheating and can be reduced by using the following approaches:

How to curb impersonation in online exams

• Using authentication technologies such as biometric systems and two-factor authentication to verify registered candidates.

• Use online assessment software with the AI-flagging feature. AI flagging feature enables instructors to spot and act on suspicious activities in exam video and audio recordings. Some suspicious behavior includes extra audio voices and unusual body language.

• Use software such as BioSig-ID which uses keystroke analysis to identify metrics such as typing patterns, style, rhythm, and pressure. These are then used to create a unique persona that is almost impossible to replicate.

2. The ‘Old school’

The ‘old school’ is popular in traditional exams. It includes tricks such as writing the notes in your palms or sticky notes and using sign language to communicate with classmates. Many institutions make a mistake of assuming that these tricks cannot be used in online exams. However, these tricks can be used in online proctored exams, but remote proctoring can catch it.

How to deal with the ‘old-school tricks’

Most of the old-school tricks of cheating can be identified with online proctoring software.  In many cases, AI-based flagging is sufficient.  But for high-stakes exams, you definitely need a human proctor in real time, because that not only protects the integrity of that examinee’s score, but greatly deters them from stealing the test content.

3. Advanced tech gadgets and software

The advancement of technology has turned some students into ‘James Bond’ types of cheaters. They rely on sophisticated tech gadgets and software to cheat in online proctored exams. Here are some creative ways students use software and technology to try and outwit the system;

Tech gadgets such as smartwatches and microphones– These devices enable students to communicate about the exam with people from the outside. Smartwatches can also be used to store answers to the tests.

Using remote software– This is one of the most popular ways of cheating in online assessments. Students install remote software to connect them with help from the outside. Some even use web versions of applications such as WhatsApp to cheat in exams.

Projectors or cameras– This is another way students can cheat in online proctored exams. Students may set up cameras on their desks and have their family or friends project the answers in front of them.

Screen Mirroring– Using certain tools, students can grant monitor access to friends and family in the room, who can help them with the test.

How to stop the ‘tech-savvy’ students from cheating

• Use lock-down browser to stop the student from surfing the web or using any software, apart from taking the exam.
• Use AI flagging to recognize and act on suspicious behavior
• Collaborate with a remote proctoring provider that offers audio and video proctoring services. You can also add a human proctor to the equation to increase assessment security. Good proctoring services will use two cameras, require room scans, lock down the computer, and other approaches to addressing tech-based cheating.

4. “Brain Dumps” and sharing of test content

In many cases, this form of student exam cheating can be referred to as the ‘charity’ of academic infidelity. This is popular in traditional exams where students share exam questions with others who have not taken the exam yet, because they feel they are being helpful – even if it could end up hurting themselves.  Candidates may take screenshots or use cameras to record questions and share them with others, or simply try to memorize items.

How to curb sharing of test content

Use ASC’s lockdown browser functionality to eliminate the ability to take screenshots and screen recording. Proctoring services will flag if students are taking pictures with their phone.  Psychometric forensics will look for unusual time patterns.

5. The ‘Water or Bathroom’ break

A student pretends to have a ‘bathroom emergency’ or ‘bad connection’ and the first thing they do after logging off the system is getting access to a device or textbook to cheat. To achieve high standards of academic integrity, it’s important for institutions not to take chances.

How to deal with the ‘Water or Bathroom Break’

This is a tricky one, as there is no knowing when the excuses are genuine or not. However, the institutions should try to come up with strict examination policies for such circumstances. For instance, the time for bathroom breaks should be limited, such as there being a 200 item test with two 100-item sections and a 10 minute break between, so there is no chance to come back to items.

6. Help from family, experts, and friends

This is a method that many students consider ‘safe’. There are several ways family, experts, and friends can help students cheat in online assessments. One way is having a family member or friend in the same room a student is taking the exam. The student can share the questions and the friend or family member can browse the internet and provide answers.

Another way students can cheat is through ‘expert tutors’. Students can hire tutors to help them with the exams or take them on their behalf. In fact, there has been an increased demand for online academic tutors.

How to stop students from getting external help

• Tighten up your authentication process by using technologies such as biometrics systems and two-factor authentication. This prevents students from receiving external help from experts.
• Utilize lockdown browser to make sure that students don’t have access to remote software or have the freedom to surf the internet.
• Use AI flagging to make sure that the candidates don’t display suspicious behavior.

7. Googling or ChatGPT-ing the answer

Doesn’t access to a computer and the internet provide students with endless opportunities to cheat in online proctored tests? Yes, if the test is not proctored or locked down.  Fortunately, this method is relatively easy to address.

How to stop students from using the internet during an exam.

Use ASC’s lockdown browser function to stop students from accessing other websites or resources on personal devices. Utilize a proctoring services.  Do not allow cell phones to be present at the desk.

Conclusion

Student exam cheating remains common. These are some of the popular ways in which students cheat on exams. However, these tricks and hacks should not scare you from reaping the benefits of online assessments. In fact, by using the solutions suggested in this article, we believe you can reduce the risks of cheating and achieve high standards of academic integrity.

Ready to minimize and deter student cheating in your online proctored exams? Contact us today and get a free consultation!

The post How students cheat in exams and how to catch them appeared first on Assessment Systems.

Many education institutions are confused about which examination models to stick to. Should you go on with the online model they used when everyone was stuck in their homes? Should you adopt multi-modal examination models, or should you go back to the traditional pen-and-paper method?  

This blog post will provide you with an evaluation of whether paper-and-pencil exams are still worth it in 2021. 

Paper-and-pencil testing; The good, the bad, and the ugly

The Good

Offline exams have been a stepping stone towards the development of modern assessment models that are more effective. We can’t ignore the fact that there are several advantages of traditional exams. 

Some advantages of paper-and-pencil testing include students having familiarity with the system, development of a social connection between learners, exemption from technical glitches, and affordability. Some schools don’t have the resources and pen-and-paper assessments are the only option available. 

This is especially true in areas of the world that do not have the internet bandwidth or other technology necessary to deliver internet-based testing.

Another advantage of paper exams is that they can often work better for students with special needs, such as blind students which need a reader.

Paper and pencil testing is often more cost-efficient in certain situations where the organization does not have access to a professional assessment platform or learning management system.

The Bad and The Ugly

However, the paper-and-pencil testing does have a number of shortfalls.

1. Needs a lot of resources to scale

Delivery of paper-and-pencil testing at large scale requires a lot of resources. You are printing and shipping, sometimes with hundreds of trucks around the country.  Then you need to get all the exams back, which is even more of a logistical lift.

2. Prone to cheating

Most people think that offline exams are cheat-proof but that is not the case. Most offline exams count on invigilators and supervisors to make sure that cheating does not occur. However, many pen-and-paper assessments are open to leakages. High candidate-to-ratio is another factor that contributes to cheating in offline exams.

3. Poor student engagement

We live in a world of instant gratification and that is the same when it comes to assessments. Unlike online exams which have options to keep the students engaged, offline exams are open to constant destruction from external factors.

Offline exams also have few options when it comes to question types. 

4. Time to score

“To err is human.” But, when it comes to assessments, accuracy, and consistency. Traditional methods of hand-scoring paper tests are slow and labor-intensive. Instructors take a long time to evaluate tests. This defeats the entire purpose of assessments.

5. Poor result analysis

Pen-and-paper exams depend on instructors to analyze the results and come up with insight. This requires a lot of human resources and expensive software. It is also difficult to find out if your learning strategy is working or it needs some adjustments. 

6. Time to release results

Online exams can be immediate.  If you ship paper exams back to a single location, score them, perform psychometrics, then mail out paper result letters?  Weeks.

7. Slow availability of results to analyze

Similarly, psychometricians and other stakeholders do not have immediate access to results.  This prevents psychometric analysis, timely feedback to students/teachers, and other issues.

8. Accessibility

Online exams can be built with tools for zoom, color contrast changes, automated text-to-speech, and other things to support accessibility.

9. Convenience

Online tests are much more easily distributed.  If you publish one on the cloud, it can immediately be taken, anywhere in the world.

10. Support for diversified question types

Unlike traditional exams which are limited to a certain number of question types, online exams offer many question types.  Videos, audio, drag and drop, high-fidelity simulations, gamification, and much more are possible.

11. Lack of modern psychometrics

Paper exams cannot use computerized adaptive testing, linear-on-the-fly testing, process data, computational psychometrics, and other modern innovations.

12. Environmental friendliness

Sustainability is an important aspect of modern civilization.  Online exams eliminate the need to use resources that are not environmentally friendly such as paper. 

Conclusion

Is paper-and-pencil testing still useful?  In most situations, it is not.  The disadvantages outweigh the advantages.  However, there are many situations where paper remains the only option, such as poor tech infrastructure.

How ASC Can Help 

Transitioning from paper-and-pencil testing to the cloud is not a simple task. That is why ASC is here to help you every step of the way, from test development to delivery. We provide you with the best assessment software and access to the most experienced team of psychometricians. Ready to take your assessments online?

The post Paper-and-Pencil Testing: Still around? appeared first on Assessment Systems.

HR assessment platforms help companies create effective assessments, thus saving valuable resources, improving candidate experience & quality, providing more accurate and actionable information about human capital, and reducing hiring bias.  But, finding software solutions that can help you reap these benefits can be difficult, especially because of the explosion of solutions in the market.  If you are lost on which tools will help you develop and deliver your own HR assessments, this guide is for you.

What is HR assessment?

There are various types of assessments used in HR.  Here are four main areas, though this list is by no means exhaustive.

1. Pre-employment tests to select candidates
2. Post-training assessments
3. Certificate or certification exams (can be internal or external)
4. 360-degree assessments and other performance appraisals

Pre-employment tests

Finding good employees in an overcrowded market is a daunting task. In fact, according to research by Career builder, 74% of employers admit to hiring the wrong employees. Bad hires are not only expensive, but can also adversely affect cultural dynamics in the workforce. This is one area where HR assessment software shows its value.

There are different types of pre-employment assessments. Each of them achieves a different goal in the hiring process. The major types of pre-employment assessments include:

Personality tests: Despite rapidly finding their way into HR, these types of pre-employment tests are widely misunderstood. Personality tests answer questions in the social spectrum.  One of the main goals of these tests is to quantify the success of certain candidates based on behavioral traits.

Aptitude tests: Unlike personality tests or emotional intelligence tests which tend to lie on the social spectrum, aptitude tests measure problem-solving, critical thinking, and agility.  These types of tests are popular because can predict job performance than any other type because they can tap into areas that cannot be found in resumes or job interviews.

Skills Testing: The kinds of tests can be considered a measure of job experience; ranging from high-end skills to low-end skills such as typing or Microsoft excel. Skill tests can either measure specific skills such as communication or measure generalized skills such as numeracy.

Emotional Intelligence tests: These kinds of assessments are a new concept but are becoming important in the HR industry. With strong Emotional Intelligence (EI) being associated with benefits such as improved workplace productivity and good leadership, many companies are investing heavily in developing these kinds of tests.  Despite being able to be administered to any candidates, it is recommended they be set aside for people seeking leadership positions, or those expected to work in social contexts.

Risk tests: As the name suggests, these types of tests help companies reduce risks. Risk assessments offer assurance to employers that their workers will commit to established work ethics and not involve themselves in any activities that may cause harm to themselves or the organization.  There are different types of risk tests. Safety tests, which are popular in contexts such as construction, measure the likelihood of the candidates engaging in activities that can cause them harm. Other common types of risk tests include Integrity tests.

Post-training assessments

This refers to assessments that are delivered after training.  It might be a simple quiz after an eLearning module, up to a certification exam after months of training (see next section).  Often, it is somewhere in between.  For example you might take an afternoon sit through a training course, after which you take a formal test that is required to do something on the job.  When I was a high school student, I worked in a lumber yard, and did exactly this to become an OSHA-approved forklift driver.

Certificate or certification exams

Sometimes, the exam process can be high-stakes and formal.  It is then a certificate or certification, or sometimes a licensure exam.  More on that here.  This can be internal to the organization, or external.

Internal certification: The credential is awarded by the training organization, and the exam is specifically tied to a certain product or process that the organization provides in the market.  There are many such examples in the software industry.  You can get certifications in AWS, SalesForce, Microsoft, etc.  One of our clients makes MRI and other medical imaging machines; candidates are certified on how to calibrate/fix them.

External certification: The credential is awarded by an external board or government agency, and the exam is industry-wide.  An example of this is the SIE exams offered by FINRA.  A candidate might go to work at an insurance company or other financial services company, who trains them and sponsors them to take the exam in hopes that the company will get a return by the candidate passing and then selling their insurance policies as an agent.  But the company does not sponsor the exam; FINRA does.

360-degree assessments and other performance appraisals

Job performance is one of the most important concepts in HR, and also one that is often difficult to measure.  John Campbell, one of my thesis advisors, was known for developing an 8-factor model of performance.  Some aspects are subjective, and some are easily measured by real-world data, such as number of widgets made or number of cars sold by a car salesperson.  Others involve survey-style assessments, such as asking customers, business partners, co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates to rate a person on a Likert scale.  HR assessment platforms are needed to develop, deliver, and score such assessments.

HR Assessment Software: The Benefits

Now that you have a good understanding of what pre-employment tests are, let’s discuss the benefits of integrating pre-employment assessment software into your hiring process. Here are some of the benefits:

Saves Valuable resources

Unlike the lengthy and costly traditional hiring processes, pre-employment assessment software helps companies increase their ROI by eliminating HR snugs such as face-to-face interactions or geographical restrictions. Pre-employment testing tools can also reduce the amount of time it takes to make good hires while reducing the risks of facing the financial consequences of a bad hire.

Supports Data-Driven Hiring Decisions

Data runs the modern world, and hiring is no different. You are better off letting complex algorithms crunch the numbers and help you decide which talent is a fit, as opposed to hiring based on a hunch or less-accurate methods like an unstructured interview.  Pre-employment assessment software helps you analyze assessments and generate reports/visualizations to help you choose the right candidates from a large talent pool.

Improving candidate experience 

Candidate experience is an important aspect of a company’s growth, especially considering the fact that 69% of candidates admitting not to apply for a job in a company after having a negative experience. Good candidate experience means you get access to the best talent in the world.

Elimination of Human Bias

Traditional hiring processes are based on instinct. They are not effective since it’s easy for candidates to provide false information on their resumes and cover letters. But, the use of pre-employment assessment software has helped in eliminating this hurdle. The tools have leveled the playing ground, and only the best candidates are considered for a position.

What To Consider When Choosing HR assessment software

Now that you have a clear idea of what pre-employment tests are and the benefits of integrating pre-employment assessment software into your hiring process, let’s see how you can find the right tools.

Here are the most important things to consider when choosing the right pre-employment testing software for your organization.

Ease-of-use

The candidates should be your top priority when you are sourcing pre-employment assessment software. This is because the ease of use directly co-relates with good candidate experience. Good software should have simple navigation modules and easy comprehension.

Here is a checklist to help you decide if a pre-employment assessment software is easy to use;

• Are the results easy to interpret?
• What is the UI/UX like?
• What ways does it use to automate tasks such as applicant management?
• Does it have good documentation and an active community?

Tests Delivery (Remote proctoring)

Good online assessment software should feature good online proctoring functionalities. This is because most remote jobs accept applications from all over the world. It is therefore advisable to choose a pre-employment testing software that has secure remote proctoring capabilities. Here are some things you should look for on remote proctoring;

• Does the platform support security processes such as IP-based authentication, lockdown browser, and AI-flagging?
• What types of online proctoring does the software offer? Live real-time, AI review, or record and review?
• Does it let you bring your own proctor?
• Does it offer test analytics?

Test & data security, and compliance

Defensibility is what defines test security. There are several layers of security associated with pre-employment test security. When evaluating this aspect, you should consider what pre-employment testing software does to achieve the highest level of security. This is because data breaches are wildly expensive.

The first layer of security is the test itself. The software should support security technologies and frameworks such as lockdown browser, IP-flagging, and IP-based authentication. If you are interested in knowing how to secure your assessments, learn more about it here.

The other layer of security is on the candidate’s side. As an employer, you will have access to the candidate’s private information. How can you ensure that your candidate’s data is secure? That is reason enough to evaluate the software’s data protection and compliance guidelines.

A good pre-employment testing software should be compliant with certifications such as GDRP. The software should also be flexible to adapt to compliance guidelines from different parts of the world.

Questions you need to ask;

• What mechanisms does the software employ to eliminate infidelity?
• Is their remote proctoring function reliable and secure?
• Are they compliant with security compliance guidelines including ISO, SSO, or GDPR?
• How does the software protect user data?

User experience

A good user experience is a must-have when you are sourcing any enterprise software. A new age pre-employment testing software should create user experience maps with both the candidates and employer in mind. Some ways you can tell if a software offers a seamless user experience includes;

• User-friendly interface
• Simple and easy to interact with
• Easy to create and manage item banks
• Clean dashboard with advanced analytics and visualizations

Customizing your user-experience maps to fit candidates’ expectations attracts high-quality talent.

Remote Exam Proctoring

Scalability and automation

With a single job post attracting approximately 250 candidates, scalability isn’t something you should overlook. A good pre-employment testing software should thus have the ability to handle any kind of workload, without sacrificing assessment quality.

It is also important you check the automation capabilities of the software. The hiring process has many repetitive tasks that can be automated with technologies such as Machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and robotic process automation (RPA).

Here are some questions you should consider in relation to scalability and automation;

• Does the software offer Automated Item Generation (AIG)?
• How many candidates can it handle?
• Can it support candidates from different locations worldwide?

Reporting and analytics

A good pre-employment assessment software will not leave you hanging after helping you

develop and deliver the tests. It will enable you to derive important insight from the assessments.

The analytics reports can then be used to make data-driven decisions on which candidate is suitable and how to improve candidate experience. Here are some queries to make on reporting and analytics;

• Does the software have a good dashboard?
• What format are reports generated in?
• What are some key insights that prospects can gather from the analytics process?
• How good are the visualizations?

Customer and Technical Support

Customer and technical support is not something you should overlook. A good pre-employment assessment software should have an Omni-channel support system that is available 24/7. This is mainly because some situations need a fast response. Here are some of the questions your should ask when vetting customer and technical support;

• What channels of support does the software offer/How prompt is their support?
• How good is their FAQ/resources page?
• Do they offer multi-language support mediums?
• Do they have dedicated managers to help you get the best out of your tests?

Conclusion

Finding the right HR assessment software is a lengthy process, yet profitable in the long run. We hope the article sheds some light on the important aspects to look for when looking for such tools. Also, don’t forget to take a pragmatic approach when implementing such tools into your hiring process.

Are you stuck on how you can use pre-employment testing tools to improve your hiring process? Feel free to contact us and we will guide you on the entire process, from concept development to implementation. Whether you need off-the-shelf tests or a comprehensive platform to build your own exams, we can provide the guidance you need.  We also offer free versions of our industry-leading software FastTest and Assess.ai– visit our Contact Us page to get started!

The post HR Assessment Software appeared first on Assessment Systems.

How hard can it be you ask? Think about factors such as pricing, scalability, and advanced functionality such as remote proctoring, CAT, reporting, user-friendliness, etc.

 It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? To help you crack this enigma, this blog will guide you on how to choose the best online assessment tools.  

Don’t have enough time to read the entire article? Skip to the checklist section and get the main ideas.

Reporting, analysis, and Visualization

This is the most important consideration to make when evaluating online assessment tools. Reports are a measure of progress. They help educational institutions and businesses adjust their learning processes to improve assessment effectiveness.

Some tools to look out for about reporting and analysis include psychometric software such as Xcalibre (IRT Analysis), Iteman (Classical analysis), CITAS, and many others. These tools should have visualization capabilities such as creating graphs and charts in relation to the assessment process.  The output should also be in a format that is easy to interpret. 

Interested in getting free access to some of these psychometric analytical tools including Xcalibre (IRT Analysis), Iteman (Classical analysis), and many others? Fill out this form to get free access to the tools. 

Built-In Remote Proctor Feature (AI-Enabled)

This is yet another component of an online assessment tool that you should consider in the evaluation process. Proctoring refers to the process of managing examination processes.

The best right assessment software should have 360° proctoring features including anti-cheat systems, live streaming, audio/video recording, and screen sharing. If the site offers real human online proctor for increased security, the better.

It is also important to find out if the tool in question is flexible enough to let you foresee the entire proctoring process.

Scalability

The most common you make when looking for student assessment tools is not evaluating how robust the platform is. This can alter the learning process and cause financial ruin since you will have to get another system.

The ideal platform should be robust enough to handle any form of workload.

All ASC’s online assessment tools are robust enough to handle any kind of workload and are a favorite among the world’s best institutions and organizations.

Ease-of-Use 

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.-

Albert Einstein 

The best software is one that offers sophisticated solutions in a way that anyone can use. Student assessment software, especially in education, should be in its simplest use. 

The interface shouldn’t be intimidating, and it should have important functions such as autosaving answers to avoid frustrating the examinee. The software should be cloud-based with no need to install it on devices. 

The process of creating and managing item banks should be as simple as possible.

Item Banking refers to the development and management of a large pool of high-quality test questions.  Items are treated as reusable objects, which allows you to more efficiently publish new test forms.  Items are stored with extensive historical metadata to drive validity.

The right online assessment tool should also support the best practices in workflow management and support collaboration.

Compatibility With Existing Systems

Most businesses and education institutions already have a Learning Management System (LMS) in their workflow. The right online assessment tool should therefore be easy to sync with the existing system.

This is important because it would be costly and time-consuming to re-develop their entire system to integrate an assessment tool into the process.

Enhanced Student Assessment Security

Cheating is one of the greatest concerns when it comes to online assessments. It is important to check the technologies and methods used by the software to curb infidelity.  Here are some functionalities you should look for in digital assessment security: 

Lockdown Browser

This is a feature that limits the examinees to one tab. This stops them from accessing files from local storages or getting help online. If an examinee attempts to access eternal software or a private tab in the browser, a notification is sent to the proctor who will take action.

AI Flagging

AI flagging helps supervisors spot any suspicious behaviors using audios and videos captured during the examination period. Some actions that may indicate cheating include background audio, extras faces on the screen, and suspicious body language. 

IP-Based Authentication

This is an interesting feature since it eliminates impersonation by using the examinees’ IP addresses for user identification. This can also eliminate cheating through remote access tools.

They are a few functionalities to look out for when vetting the security level of an online assessment platform. If you want to learn more about digital assessment security, feel free to check out this blog post.

Good customer Support  

We all get stuck once in a while and good customer support shouldn’t be ignored when looking for an assessment tool. 

• How long do they take to reply to a query by a customer? 
• Do they have a FAQs page?
• How well is the software documented?
• Have they implemented self-service support into their process? 

Consider asking these questions when vetting customer support in online assessment tools. 

Student assessment tool Checklist

To sum up the article, here is a checklist to help you find the right assessment tool for your needs.

•  What cheating prevention methods does it offer? (Lockdown browser, IP-based authentication, and IP-flagging)
•  How good is their item authoring functionality? Go for the one with tech-enhanced item types, classical item statistics storage, and a separate module for managing multimedia files.
• How does the software offer online delivery? Check out for adaptive testing capabilities, customizable options, and brand-ability.
• What is their reputation? Always be sure to check out what other people say about the brand and the software. How are their reviews online? Have they won any Ed-tech awards? 
• How good is their reporting? Choose the tool that offers classical item performance reports with Iteman and has visualization capabilities. 
• Does the software support remote proctoring?
• Are all their test development modules in alignment with the best psychometrics practices?
• Do they offer multichannel support? How good is their documentation?
• Is the software easy to use? Is it accessible from anywhere?  Always go for user-friendly software. 
•  How well does it integrate with existing systems? 
• What type of assessments (formative assessments, diagnostic assessments, summative, synoptic, ipsative, or work-integrated assessments) are you looking for? Use this resource to help you differentiate between the types of online assessments. 
• Do they have an experienced team to help in test development? and other consulting services?

Finding the right software for your needs is hard, especially in this competitive market. We hope this article, the long checklist specifically, helps you find the right exam software. If you are interested in having access to the best student assessment tools and psychometrics consulting, feel free to contact us to discuss your needs.

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To give you a complete glimpse into the future of education post-pandemic, we have prepared 10 EdTech Trends and Predictions To Watch Out For In 2021. What will happen to the education technology marketplace? Which trends and technologies will disrupt education as we know it? 

Important EdTech Stats To Note:

• 86% of educators say Technology is the core of learning

• EdTech expenditure will hit $404 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 16%, between 2019-2025

• Utilization of Technology for Engagement is on the rise (84% of Educators support the idea)

• The E-Learning market will grow to $375 billion by 2026. 

• Global investments in education technology are on the rise, with a total of $10 billion in 2020. They are expected to reach $87 billion in the next decade. 

Image Credit: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch

Part 1: EdTech Trends To Watch Out For

1. E-Learning

E-learning is the biggest EdTech trend in 2021. Its scalability and cost-effectiveness have made this model the go-to solution for students all over the world, especially during the pandemic.  Also, recent research shows that e-learning improves retention rates by 25-60%, which makes it a better deal for students. 

The industry is booming and is expected to hit the $375 billion mark by 2026. 

To capitalize on this trend, many institutions have started offering online degrees online. Platforms such as Coursera have partnered with the world’s greatest universities to provide short courses, certifications, and bachelor’s degrees online, at lower costs. 

Other platforms offering eLearning services include Lessonly, Udemy, Masterclass, and Skillshare. This trend is not likely to slow down post-covid, but there will be barriers that should be eliminated in order to accelerate the adoption of this trend. 

2. Digital Assessments Become A Necessity

Assessments are a vital part of the learning process as they gauge the effectiveness of learning methods. Over the past few years, Online tests have been replacing traditional testing methods which mostly involved pen and paper. Some of the main advantages of digital assessments Include:

•  Reliability
•  Cost-effectiveness
•  Flexibility. 
• Increased security and efficiency
• Students with disabilities can have equal chances with other students. This is because online testing can support technologies such as speech-to-text.
• Immediate results reduce stress and anxiety among students
• Learning analytics help improve assessment quality

Online exams have increased effectiveness in the testing process by adding technologies and strategies such as adaptive testing,  remote proctoring, and learning analytics into the equation. This has helped students improve retention rates and exam developers enhance their testing strategies. Cheating, which has been a major concern in assessments has been reduced by online assessment techniques such as Lockdown browsers, time windows, and time windows. Digital assessments are a must-have for all institutions looking to capitalize on the advantages of online testing in 2021.

3. Extended Reality (XR)

Virtual Reality Learning Retention (Source: FrontCore)

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are revolutionizing the education sector by challenging the way in which students used to receive and process information.  2021 will witness increased adoption of XR technologies and solutions across education and corporate learning environments. 

Extended Reality technologies and solutions are improving retention rates and learning experiences in students by creating immersive worlds where students can learn new skills and visualize concepts in an interactive way.  According to research, Virtual Reality has higher retention rates compared to other learning methods such as lecturing, demonstration, and audio-visuals. Some other ways in which XR is improving the education sector are offering cost-effective and interesting field trips, enhancing lifelong learning, and transforming hands-on learning. 

4. Chatbots In Higher Education

Chatbots took the sales and marketing industry by storm over the past few years and are finding their way into the education sector. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many higher education institutions integrated chatbots into their systems to help in the automation of tasks. 

Some tasks that can be automated including lead generation for courses and student query resolution on pressing issues such as fees. This improves the cost-effectiveness in institution administration. This EdTech trend will be integrated into more institutions in 2021. 

5. Video-Based Learning At The Forefront

Video has become king in learning and entertainment. 2021 will see an exponential increase in video consumption. In relation to learning, the rapid increase in devices on the internet, and new technological innovations such as smart TVs will accelerate the adoption of video-based learning. 

There are many advantages that come with video-based learning. Some of them include cost-friendliness, higher retention rate in students, support for self-pace learning, and many others. The reliability of this mode of learning will make higher education institutions invest in this mode of learning. 

Using video-based learning is not a complex procedure, especially because there are many tools and platforms online that can help with the process. The cost of producing high-quality videos and lectures has also become cheaper. 

6. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been at the forefront of pioneering innovations that drive humanity to the new ages of civilization. In relation to education, AI has played a big role in enhancing learning experiences, improving assessment practices and so much more! 

In 2021, AI will make headlines as it will be integrated into important aspects of higher education such as campus security, student performance evaluation, and so much more! Facial recognition, which is a component of AI, can be used in tracking student attendance, securing campus premises, and decreasing infidelity during online testing.  AI also plays a vital part in student evaluation and improving the assessment process by powering technologies such as adaptive testing. Adaptive testing is a method that improves the testing process by providing unique assessments to different students based on factors such as IQ and many others.  The power of AI is unlimited and there is no predicting what 2021 will bring to the education industry.

7. Big Data and Learning Analytics

Learning analytics is yet another one of the EdTech trends that is yet to disrupt the education industry. Learning analytics is a set of technologies and strategies that are used to empower educators, track learning processes, and help instructors make data-driven decisions.

Some components of learning analytics include Artificial Intelligence, visualizations, machine learning, statistics, personalized adaptive learning, and educational data mining. 

As we all know, data runs everything in the information era, and whoever has the best data analytics model wins. In education, analytics has played an important role in shaping instructional design and assessment processes for the best. 

2021 will see increased adoption of analytics tools into Learning and Development.

Here are some of the ways learning analytics will shape Education for the best;

• Behavior and performance prediction– Using predictive analytics, instructors can predict the performance of learners based on their present and past performances.
• Increased retention rates– By having a clear picture of what students are good at and what they are struggling with (You can identify this by analyzing their digital assessment results), one can shape the learning process to increase retention rates. 

• Support for personalized learning– This is the hot cake of learning analytics. By using data analytics, instructors can create personalized learning experiences for different students based on several metrics.

• Increase cost-efficiency– Education and training are expensive, and learning analytics can help improve the quality of learning outcomes while cutting out unnecessary costs.

• Helps in the definition of learning strategy– By understanding what you need to achieve, and the purpose of your goals, you can use data analytics to create a roadmap to help you in the process. 

8. Gamification

Gamification is not a new concept in education. It has been around for ages, but it’s expected to take a different turn through the integration of game mechanics in learning. Minecraft, the game everybody can’t seem to have enough of is a good example. This game has come in handy in teaching important concepts in society such as storytelling.  

Programming and game design, which are skills that are important in our digital world, has received a huge boost from the existence of games such as Roblox. The game attracts more than 100 million players each month.  

In 2021, we are likely to see the rise of more gamification strategies in the ed-tech space.

Part 2: Predictions

9. Accelerated EdTech Investments

Over the past decade, the global EdTech venture capital has seen exponential growth, from 500 million in 2010 to more than $10 billion in 2020). 

As the adoption of digital EdTech solutions rises, this number is expected to rise rapidly in the next decade. Some reports estimate an $87 billion increase in investments by 2030.

 With Asia being the leading adopters of EdTech, startups from other continents will be looking to up their game to capitalize on opportunities arising from the industry.

10.  EdTech Market Value Will Reach New Heights

The Covid-19 pandemic increased the adoption of Education technology solutions. The expenditure of the sector is expected to reach new heights ($404 billion) between 2019 and 2025. 

What acted as a source of short-term resort for the education sector will become the new norm. 

Many schools and colleges have not started their transition to the new models of learning, but most of them are laying off strategies to start the process. Integrating some of the trends discussed above may be a good way to start your journey.

Final Thoughts on 2021 EdTech Trends

The uncertainty that comes in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic makes it hard to predict the ed-tech trends that will lead the way in 2021. But, we believe that 2021 will be a year of many firsts and unknowns in the education sector. That said, there is immense power in understanding how the above-discussed trends and predictions may shape L & D. And how you can capitalize on the opportunities that arise from them. 

If you are interested in leveraging the power of digital assessments and psychometrics practices for your education and corporate campaigns, feel free to sign up for access to our free assessment tools or consult with our experienced team for services such as test development, job analysis, implementation services and so much more!

The post 10 EdTech Trends and Predictions To Watch Out For In 2021 appeared first on Assessment Systems.

Also known as digital assessments or e-assessments, online assessments are the new black in recruitment and learning & development (L&D). In fact, according to a Talent Assessment Study conducted in 2016-2017, the adoption of online assessment grew by 116% in L&D and 114% in recruitment. Made up of several approaches, online assessments aim to assess technical and soft skills and individuals’ personalities. They can be adopted in industries such as education, technology, and even corporate environments!

However, despite the many benefits of online assessments, developing assessments that are effective has proven to be a problem for many businesses. 

In this blog, we explore 5 tips to create effective online corporate training assessments to make sure that your training achieves its main objectives.

But, before going into the brass tucks of online assessment tricks, here are some benefits of using online testing in corporate training assessment:

The Future Of Assessments: Tech. ed

Benefits Of Online Corporate Training Assessments

Insight On Company Strengths and Weaknesses

Online testing gives businesses and organizations insight into the positives and negatives of their training programs. For example, if an organization realizes that certain employees can’t grasp certain concepts, they may decide to modify how they are delivered or eliminate them completely. The employees can also work on their areas of weaknesses after the assessments, hence improving productivity. 

Helps in Measuring Performance

Unlike traditional testing which is impossible to perform analytics on the assessments, measure performance and high-fidelity, online assessments can quantify initial goals such as call center skills. By measuring performance, businesses can create data-driven roadmaps on how their employees can achieve their best form in terms of performance. 

Advocate For Ideas and Concepts That Can Be Integrated Into The Real World

Workers learn every day and sometimes what they learn is not used in driving the business towards attaining its objectives. This can lead to burnout and information overload in employees, which in turn lowers performance and work quality. By using online assessments, you can customize tests to help workers attain skills that are only in alignment with your business goals. This can be done by using methods such as adaptive testing. 

Other Benefits Include: 

• The assessments can be taken from anywhere in the world
• Saves the company a lot of time and resources
• Improved security compared to traditional assessments
• Improved accuracy and reliability. 
• Scalability and flexibility

Components Of Effective Corporate Training Assessments

Effective online testing is all about having a well-defined strategy. What is it you are trying to achieve with the corporate assessment? 

It is therefore important that you have data-driven insight into key questions such as what you are trying to assess, why you are doing it, the time to assess learners, which online assessment tools to use, and how you go about with the assessments.

 These help you formulate assessments with learning goals and objectives in mind, which improves their effectiveness. 

Tips To Improve Your Online Corporate Training Assessments

1. Personalized Testing

Most businesses have an array of different training needs. Most employees have different backgrounds and responsibilities in organizations, which is difficult to create effective generalized tests. To achieve the main objectives of your training, it is important to differentiate the assessments. Sales assessments, technical assessments, management assessments, etc can not be the same. Even in the same department, there could be diversification in terms of skills and responsibilities. One way to achieve personalized testing is by using methods such as Computerized Adaptive Testing. Through the immense power of AI and machine learning, this method gives you the power to create tests that are unique to employees. Not only does personalized testing improve effectiveness in your workforce, but it is also cost-effective, secure, and in alignment with the best Psychometrics practices in the corporate world. It is also important to keep in mind the components of effective online assessments when creating personalized tests.  

2. Analyzing Assessment Results

Many businesses don’t see the importance of analyzing corporate training assessment results. How do you expect to improve your training programs and assessments if you don’t derive value from the assessment results? 

Example of Assessment analysis on Iteman

Analyze assessment results using psychometric analytics software such as Iteman to get important insights such as successful participants, item performance issues, and many others. This provides you with a blueprint to improve your assessments and employee training programs. 

3. Integrating Online Assessments Into Company Culture

Getting the best out of online assessments is not about getting it right once, but getting it right over a long period of time. Integrating assessments into company culture is one great way to achieve this. This will make assessments part of the systems and employees will always look forward to improving their skills. You can also use strategies such as gamification to make sure that your employees enjoy the process. It is also critical to give the employees the freedom to provide feedback on the assessments and training programs. 

4. Diversify Your Assessment Types

One great myth about online assessments is that they are limited in terms of questions and problems you can present to your employees. However, this is not true!

 By using methods such as item banking, assessment systems are able to provide users with the ability to develop assessments using different question types. Some modern question types include:

• Drag & drop 
• Multiple correct 
• Embedded audio or video
• Cloze or fill in the blank
• Number lines
• Situational judgment test items
• Counter or timer for performance tests

Diversification of question types improves comprehension in employees and helps them develop skills to approach problems from multiple angles. 

5. Choose Your Online Assessment Tools Carefully

This is among the most important considerations you should make when creating a corporate assessment strategy. This is because online assessment software and tools are the core of how your campaigns turn out. 

There are many online assessment tools available, but choosing one that meets your requirements can be a daunting task. Apart from the key considerations of budget, functionality, etc, there are many other factors to keep in mind before choosing online assessment tools. 

To help you choose an online assessment tool that will help you in your assessment journey, here are a few things to consider:

Ease-of-use

Most people are new to online assessments, and as much as some functionalities can be powerful, they may be overwhelming to candidates and the test development staff. This may make candidates underperform. It is, therefore, important to vet the platform and its functionalities to make sure that they are easy to use. 

Functionality 

Online assessments are becoming popular and new inventions are being made every day. Does the online assessment software have the latest innovations in the industry? Do you get value for your money? Does it support modern psychometrics like item response theory? These are just but a few questions to ask when vetting a platform for functionality. 

Assessment Reporting and Visualizations

One major advantage of online assessments over traditional ones is that they offer access to instant assessment reporting. You should therefore look for a platform that offers advanced reporting and visualizations in metrics such as performance, question strengths, and many others. 

Cheating precautions and Security

When it comes to online corporate assessments, there are two concerns when it comes to security. How secure are the assessments? And how secure is the platform? In relation to the tests, the platform should provide precautions and technologies such as Lockdown browser against cheating. They should also have measures in place to make sure that user data is secure. 

Reliable Support System

This is one consideration that many businesses don’t keep in mind, and end up regretting in the long run. Which channels does the corporate training assessment platform use to provide its users with support? Do they have resources such as whitepapers and documentation in case you need them? How fast is their support? 

These are questions you should ask before selecting a platform to take care of your assessment needs. 

Scalability

A good online testing platform should be able to provide you with resources should your needs go beyond expectation. This includes delivery volume – server scalability – but also being able to manage more item authors, more assessments, more examinees, and greater psychometric rigor.

Final Thoughts

Adopting effective online corporate training assessments can be daunting tasks with a lot of forces at play, and we hope these tips will help you get the best out of your assessments. Online assessments are revolutionizing many industries, and it’s about time you integrate them into your workflow.

Do you want to integrate online assessments into your corporate environment or any industry but feel overwhelmed by the process? Feel free to contact an experienced team of professionals to help you create an assessment strategy that helps you achieve your long-term goals and objectives.  

You can also sign up to get free access to our online assessment suite including 60 item types, IRT, adaptive testing, and so much more functionality!

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Verdadera banca de ítems con acceso a contenido

Una buena evaluación comienza con buenos ítems. Si bien los Sistemas de Gestión del Aprendizaje (LMS) y otras plataformas que no son realmente de evaluación incluyen algunas funciones de creación de ítems, por lo general no cumplen con los requisitos básicos para una verdadera banca de ítems. Existen prácticas recomendadas con respecto a la banca de ítems que son estándar en las organizaciones de evaluación a gran escala (p. Ej., Los Departamentos de Educación de Estado en EE. UU.), pero son sorprendentemente raras para los exámenes de certificación / licencia profesional, universidades y otras organizaciones. A continuación, se muestran algunos ejemplos.

• Los ítems son reutilizables (no es necesario cargarlos para cada prueba en la que se utilicen)

• Seguimiento de la versión del ítem

• Seguimiento y auditorías de edición hecha por usuarios

• Controles de contenido de autor (los profesores de matemáticas solo pueden ver elementos de matemáticas)

• Almacenar metadatos como parámetros de la Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem (TRI) y estadísticas clásicas

• Seguimiento del uso de ítems en las pruebas

• Flujo de trabajo de revisión de ítems

Acceso basado en roles

Todos los usuarios deben estar limitados por roles, como Autor del ítem, Revisor del Ítem, Editor de Pruebas y Administrador de Examinados. Entonces, por ejemplo, es posible que alguien a cargo de administrar la lista de examinados / estudiantes nunca vea ninguna pregunta del examen.

Análisis forense de datos

Hay muchas formas de analizar los resultados de tu prueba para buscar posibles amenazas de seguridad / validez. Nuestro  software SIFT  proporciona una plataforma de software gratuita para ayudarte a implementar esta metodología moderna. Puedes evaluar los índices de colusión, que cuantifican qué tan similares son las respuestas para cualquier par de examinados. También puedes evaluar los tiempos de respuesta, el rendimiento del grupo y las estadísticas acumuladas.

Aleatorización

Cuando las pruebas se entregan en línea, debe tener la opción de aleatorizar el orden de los ítems y también el orden de las respuestas. Al imprimir en papel, debe haber una opción para aleatorizar el orden. Pero, por supuesto, está mucho más limitado respecto a esto cuando se usa papel.

Prueba lineal sobre la marcha (LOFT)

LOFT creará una prueba aleatoria única para cada examinado. Por ejemplo, puedes tener un grupo de 300 ítems distribuidos en 4 dominios, y cada examinado recibirá 100 ítems con 25 de cada dominio. Esto aumenta enormemente la seguridad.

Pruebas adaptativas computarizadas (CAT)

CAT lleva la personalización aún más lejos y adapta la dificultad del examen y el número de ítems que ve cada alumno, en base a ciertos algoritmos y objetivos psicométricos. Esto hace que la prueba sea extremadamente segura.

Navegador bloqueado

¿Quieres asegurarte de que el alumno no pueda navegar en busca de respuestas o tomar capturas de pantalla de ítems? Necesitas un navegador bloqueado. Las plataformas de evaluación de ASC,  Assess.ai  y  FastTest, vienen con esto listo para usar y sin costo adicional.

Códigos de prueba para examinados

¿Quieres asegurarte de que la persona adecuada realice el examen adecuado? Genera contraseñas únicas de un solo uso para que las entregue un supervisor después de la verificación de identidad. Esto es especialmente útil en la supervisión remota; el estudiante nunca recibe ninguna información  antes del examen sobre cómo ingresar, excepto para iniciar la sesión de supervisión virtual. Una vez que el supervisor verifica la identidad del examinado le proporciona la contraseña única de un solo uso.

Códigos de supervisor

¿Quieres un paso adicional en el procedimiento de inicio de la prueba? Una vez que se verifica la identidad de un estudiante e ingresa su código, el supervisor también debe ingresar una contraseña diferente que sea exclusiva para él ese día.

Ventanas de fecha / hora

¿Quieres evitar que los examinados ingresen temprano o tarde? Configura una ventana de tiempo específica, como el viernes de 9 a 12 am.

Supervisión basada en IA (Inteligencia Artificial)

Este nivel de supervisión es relativamente económico, y hace un gran trabajo validando los resultados de un examinado individual. Sin embargo, no protege la propiedad intelectual de las preguntas de tu examen. Si un examinado roba todas las preguntas, no lo sabrás de inmediato. Por lo tanto, es muy útil para exámenes de nivel bajo o medio, pero no tan útil para exámenes de alto riesgo como certificaciones o licenciaturas. Obtenga más información sobre nuestras opciones de supervisión remota. También te recomiendo esta publicación de blog para obtener una descripción general de la industria de supervisión remota.

Supervisión en línea en tiempo real

Si no puedes asistir a los centros de pruebas en persona debido a COVID, esta es la siguiente mejor opción. Los supervisores en vivo pueden registrar al candidato, verificar la identidad e implementar todas las demás cosas anteriores. Además, pueden verificar el entorno del examinado y detener el examen si ven que el examinado roba preguntas u otros problemas importantes. MonitorEDU es un gran ejemplo de esto.

¿Cómo puedo empezar?

¿Necesitas ayuda para implementar algunas de estas medidas? ¿O simplemente quieres hablar sobre las posibilidades? Envía un correo electrónico a ASC a solutions@assess.com.

Traducido de la entrada de blog escrita por el Dr. Nathan Thompson.

Nathan Thompson obtuvo su doctorado en psicometría de la Universidad de Minnesota, con un enfoque en pruebas adaptativas computarizadas. Su licenciatura fue de Luther College con una triple especialización en Matemáticas, Psicología y Latín. Está interesado principalmente en el uso de la IA y la automatización de software para aumentar y reemplazar el trabajo realizado por psicometristas, lo que le ha proporcionado una amplia experiencia en el diseño y programación de software. El Dr. Thompson ha publicado más de 100 artículos de revistas y presentaciones de conferencias, pero su favorito sigue siendo https://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=16&n=1.

The post Consejos para Seguridad en las Evaluaciones durante COVID-19 appeared first on Assessment Systems.

Vigilancia en Línea: Dos Mercados Distintos

En primer lugar, describiría la industria de vigilancia en línea como perteneciente a dos mercados distintos, por lo que el primer paso es determinar cuál de ellos se adapta a tu organización.

1. Sistemas a mayor escala, de menor costo (cuando son a gran escala) y con menos seguridad, diseñados para ser utilizados solo como un complemento para las principales plataformas LMS como Blackboard o Canvas. Por lo tanto, estos sistemas de vigilancia en línea están diseñados para exámenes de nivel medio, como un examen de mitad de período de Introducción a la psicología en una universidad.

2. Sistemas de menor escala, mayor costo y mayor seguridad diseñados para ser utilizados con plataformas de evaluación independientes. Estos son generalmente para exámenes de mayor importancia como certificación o fuerza laboral, o quizás para uso especial en universidades como exámenes de Admisión y Colocación.

¿Cómo reconocer la diferencia? El primer tipo anunciará la fácil integración con sistemas como Blackboard o Canvas como característica clave. También se centrarán a menudo en la revisión de videos por IA, en lugar de usar humanos en tiempo real. Otra consideración clave es observar la base de clientes existente, que usualmente es anunciada.

Otras formas en que los sistemas de vigilancia en línea pueden diferir

IA vs humanos: Algunos sistemas se basan exclusivamente en algoritmos de inteligencia artificial para marcar las grabaciones de video de los examinados. Otros sistemas utilizan humanos reales.

Grabar y Revisar vs Humanos en Tiempo Real: Existen dos formas si se utilizan humanos. Primero, puede ser en vivo y en tiempo real, lo que significa que hay un ser humano en el otro extremo del video que puede confirmar la identidad antes de permitir que comience la prueba, y detener la prueba si hay actividad ilícita. Grabar y Revisar grabará el audio y un humano lo comprobará en un plazo de 24 a 48 horas. Esto es más flexible, pero no puedes detener la prueba si alguien está robando el contenido; probablemente no lo sabrás hasta el día siguiente.

Captura de pantalla: Algunos proveedores de vigilancia en línea tienen la opción de grabar / transmitir la pantalla y también la cámara web. Algunos también brindan la opción de hacer únicamente esto (sin cámara web) para exámenes de menor importancia.

Teléfono móvil como tercera cámara: Algunas plataformas más nuevas ofrecen la opción de integrar fácilmente el teléfono móvil del examinado como una tercera cámara, que funciona efectivamente como un supervisor humano. Se les indicará a los examinados que utilicen el video para mostrar debajo de la mesa, detrás del monitor, etc., antes de comenzar el examen. Luego, se les puede indicar que coloquen el teléfono a 2 metros de distancia con una vista clara de toda la habitación mientras se realiza la prueba.

Uso de supervisores propios: Algunos sistemas de vigilancia en línea le permiten utilizar su propio personal como supervisores, lo que es especialmente útil si la prueba se realiza en un período de tiempo reducido. Si se entrega continuamente 24 × 7 durante todo el año, probablemente desee utilizar el personal altamente capacitado del proveedor.

Integraciones de API: Algunos sistemas requieren que los desarrolladores de software configuren una integración de API con su LMS o plataforma de evaluación. Otros son más flexibles y puedes iniciar sesión por ti mismo, cargar una lista de examinados y ya queda todo listo para la prueba.

Bajo pedido vs Programado: Algunas plataformas requieren que se programe un margen de tiempo para que los examinados realicen la prueba. Otros son puramente bajo demanda y el examinado puede presentarse cuando esté listo. MonitorEDU es un excelente ejemplo de esto: los examinados se presentan en cualquier momento, presentan su identificación a un humano en tiempo real y luego comienzan la prueba de inmediato: sin descargas / instalaciones, sin verificaciones del sistema, sin integraciones de API, nada.

Más seguridad: Un Mejor Sistema de Entrega de Pruebas

Una buena plataforma de entrega de pruebas también vendrá con su propia funcionalidad para mejorar la seguridad de las pruebas: aleatorización, generación automatizada de ítems, pruebas adaptativas computarizadas, pruebas lineales sobre la marcha, banca profesional de ítems, puntuación de la teoría de respuesta a los ítems, puntuación escalada, análisis psicométrico, equiparación, entrega de bloqueo y más. En el contexto de la vigilancia en línea, quizás lo más destacado sea la entrega de bloqueo. En este caso, la prueba se hará cargo por completo de la computadora del examinado y no podrá usarla para nada más hasta que termine la prueba.

Los sistemas LMS rara vez incluyen esta funcionalidad, porque no son necesarios para un examen de mitad de período de Introducción a la psicología. Sin embargo, hay muchas cosas en juego en la mayoría de las evaluaciones del mundo (admisiones universitarias, certificaciones, contratación de personal, etc.) y estas pruebas dependen en gran medida de dicha funcionalidad. Tampoco es solo una costumbre o una tradición. Dichos métodos se consideran esenciales según los estándares internacionales, incluidos AERA / APA / NCMA, ITC y NCCA.

Socios de ASC de Vigilancia en Línea

ASC les brinda a sus clientes una solución lista para ser usada, debido a que está asociado con algunos de los líderes en el ámbito. Estos incluyen: MonitorEDU, ProctorExam, Examity y Proctor360. Obtén más información en nuestra página web sobre esa funcionalidad y otra que explica el concepto de seguridad de prueba configurable.

Traducido de la entrada de blog escrita por el Dr. Nathan Thompson.

Nathan Thompson obtuvo su doctorado en psicometría de la Universidad de Minnesota, con un enfoque en pruebas adaptativas computarizadas. Su licenciatura fue de Luther College con una triple especialización en Matemáticas, Psicología y Latín. Está interesado principalmente en el uso de la IA y la automatización de software para aumentar y reemplazar el trabajo realizado por psicometristas, lo que le ha proporcionado una amplia experiencia en el diseño y programación de software. El Dr. Thompson ha publicado más de 100 artículos de revistas y presentaciones de conferencias, pero su favorito sigue siendo https://pareonline.net/getvn.asp?v=16&n=1.

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What goes into certification program management?

There are many aspects that go into certification program management, including:

• Legal status
• Board governance
• Accounting
• Test development
• Staffing, org charts, and org structure (firewall between certification and education)
• Continuing education
• Recertification
• Prerequisites and eligibility pathways
• Operations
• Policies for candidates

One important consideration in certification program management is the requirement of firewall between staff involved in Certification and those involved in Education. Basically, you don’t want the people who are teaching courses to have seen the items on the test – especially if there is an incentive for them to help the students pass! For example, if instructors are tracked by pass rate for their students or institution, they have a reason to want more people to pass, and could divulge more info about the exam than they should. If they never know such information, they instead concentrate on teaching.

Other stakes in certification program management include the protection of the public. This includes patients, students, customers, employees, employers, and all others affected by the performance of certified individuals. The program itself also wagers its reputation each time it confers a certification.

In this high-risk environment, savvy certification program managers are concerned with granting certification only to those likely to practice competently. They optimize their tests using tools from the science of psychometrics to ensure that candidates must demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills in order to pass. Learn more about the process of test development in this blog post.

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