Poll – most teachers want online exams
PUPIL’S GRAN URGES LEADERS TO ‘TAKE RESPONSIBILITY’
NEW polling has revealed that over half of teachers would adopt online exams now if they were available in their subject.
A survey by exam board Pearson Edexcel of 1,100 teachers revealed that 51% would use onscreen assessment now if it were available in their subject area, while 77% said they would like more technology to be used in teaching and exams.
In total, 95% said that they needed more training in this area.
A report by Pearson found that a lack of good internet connection in schools, security issues, and the digital divide between poorer pupils and their peers could be holding the UK back from adopting online exams at GCSE and A level.
The report also suggests that the ‘rigidity’ of the current exams system, with whole cohorts taking their exams at the same time, could ‘make the delivery of onscreen assessment more difficult logistically’.
Hayley White, assessment director at Pearson, said that online exams could allow pupils to sit GCSEs or A levels at any point in the year.
“In the future, onscreen assessment could be on-demand making it possible for students to sit exams when they’re ready during the academic year, rather than the current fixed points in the summer,” she said.
Changing the way pupils take exams would also mean that a new, ‘digital first’ curriculum would be needed, the report says.
Dr Mick Walker, president of the Chartered Institute of Education Assessors, said: “Introducing technological approaches to high volume, high stakes qualifications require considered thought, careful planning and system-wide trials if we are to avoid any pitfalls.”