Welcome to ABC Awards

e-Assessment

eAssessment Activities

eAssessment methods will be the way of the future. Technology is changing how we work, learn and interact. Now it is time for educational assessment to catch up!

ABC Awards (ABC) has completed a two year eAssessment research and piloting study. The following areas were covered within the scope of the research

Developing an onscreen testing capacity and piloting its use as an alternative to paper exams
Piloting the use of ePortfolios by centres for internal assessments

The outcome of the eAssessment project has resulted in ABC offering low and high stakes on-screen exams, moderating ePortfolio coursework, developing guidance for centres and moderators/ verifiers, and providing support for ABC Centres wishing to adopt eAssessment technologies.

Continued ....

For information on how to get involved in piloting eAssessment please contact Caroline Shaw carolines@abcawards.co.uk 01257 244902

Posted 15.4.09

Onscreen Customer Feedback

Chesterfield College

Chesterfield College, offers the ABC Awards Level 2 Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Practice. They recently agreed to take part in an ABC initiative regarding on-screen assessment testing. This is some feedback from Ray Peet, Operational Manager Support for Students, Directorate of Engineering & Construction.

“We had approximately 90 learners undertake the Health & Safety and Related Studies units at Level 2 via on screen assessments. All of the learners found the experience much better than sitting a paper based examination and were very impressed with the layout on the screen and particularly about the speed in which their results were transmitted to them after the examination.

"What is also useful is that we can use the assessments outside the set examination periods giving us greater flexibility within our programmes. This year’s group has been outstanding even though we have had some challenging learners taking the on screen assessment. Some with specific learning needs found that they did not require support in the examination because of the clarity of the on screen display.

"Everyone has benefited including our examinations section once they got use to the set up and access to the system.”

Ray expressed his particular thanks to ABC Awards eAssessment Project Manager for her hard work and support. Contact Caroline Shaw on carolines@abcawards.co.uk if you would like information about on screen assessment.

Posted 2.11.09

West Nottinghamshire College

When asked for feedback regarding on screen tests that learners have taken with ABC, West Nottinghamshire College commented -

"I can honestly say this is one the best things ABC has introduced in the eight years I have been at West Notts College, the students who have undertaken this form of assessment for 'related studies' have all gone on to complete, where as previously many of them would go down as a fail, meaning they would be rolled over to the next academic year, this as you are probably aware causes all manner of problems for us.

"The way the assessment is administered is very flexible and the format it is presented in is conducive to our centre achieving much higher pass rates than would otherwise be the case, this alone has made the difference between us moving to another awarding body to achieve a higher pass rate, and staying with ABC.

"As for giving any feedback to help you improve the online assessment, I cannot think of anything I would change.

"The online testing ABC is currently providing to West Notts should continue as it is."

Brian Wigfield, Program Area Leader
Fabrication & Welding, West Nottinghamshire College

Posted 2.7.09

e-Portfolio Endorsements

Over the past two years as part of a wider eAssessment strategy, ABC Awards has worked and supported centres wishing to pilot e-Portfolio systems, providing advice, guidance, system implementation and project support. These pilot projects have enabled learners to create electronic coursework portfolios and submit them as part of ABC's qualifications assessment requirements. Centres have been using the OneFile and Learning Assistant ePortfolio systems with very positive outcomes, such as better tracking and management of learner progression, increased learner motivation and more timely achievements.

Customer Quotes:

“The tracking of the ePortfolio development is one of the greatest attributes, especially for motivating candidates on their progression”

“The beauty of ePortfolio’s means that candidates can login and do work during their lunch times”

‘.....an efficient means of delivering a quality learning experience in practical art subjects to students previously excluded’.

‘........... individual students can gain access to learning resources and continue their work when not on site; assignments can be submitted electronically; and teachers effectively use the technology to monitor submissions.'

The Learner Voice:

‘......flexibility to study at my own pace, whenever and wherever it suits me’.

ABC Awards continues to support innovation and development in the use of ePortfolios for vocational qualifications.

	For further information on Learning Assistant please visit their website at www.learningassistant.com
	For further information on OneFile please visit their website at www1.onefile.co.uk

If your centre is interested in using ePortfolios or require further details please contact support@abcawards.co.uk

Posted 16.12.08

e-Moderation Guide Now Available

This guide describes the centre’s responsibilities and the processes to be followed when planning, preparing and submitting electronic evidence samples for external moderation. It also provides some technical guidance to assist in managing some of the associated risks, and it identifies where to get further help.

This guide is intended to support centres wishing to use information and communication technology (ICT) to evidence achievement of ABC Awards’ (ABC) qualifications. ABC encourages all centres that are looking to use innovative and modern methods of assessment.

This guide is intended for: