More on Whether Computers Can Assess Writing

Bill Tucker:

A few weeks ago, I wrote about research on new computer-based tools to assess student essays. I concluded that, for now, these tools might be best for establishing basic levels of writing proficiency. But, I also noted that the most important value of these tools may not be for high-stakes testing, but to increase writing practice and revision.

Randy Bennett, one of the world's leading experts on technology-enhanced assessments, points me to his extremely helpful -- and readable -- new article, which offers advice to the assessment consortia as they look to implement automated scoring (not just in writing, but also for literacy and math).

Bennett's paper distinguishes among the various types of automated scoring tasks, illustrating where automated scoring is most ready for high-stakes use. He makes a much needed call for transparency in scoring algorithms and even provides ideas on how automated and human-based scoring can improve one another (noting flaws in human-based scoring, too). Finally, he ends with this sensible approach:

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 9, 2011 2:01 AM
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