Using Electronic Assessment to Measure Student Performance (pdf)

Paper-and-pencil measures dominate testing in the nation's elementary and secondary schools. As demands for greater school accountability and student achievement continue to increase, the shortcomings of these measures in a knowledge-based economy are becoming more evident. For example, paper-and-pencil testing programs provide results too slowly to guide state policy or classroom instruction effectively. Perhaps more seriously, changes in what and how students learn are outpacing the capabilities of conventional tests. This development results from the influx of technology into the workplace and into education; skill in technology is becoming both a workforce requirement and an essential academic tool (e.g., for research, writing, simulation, and data visualization).

The benefits of electronic assessment are clear. By using this technology to measure student performance, state policymakers can improve the return of test results to teachers so they inform instruction. In addition, the technology can help customize learning and assessment. Finally, the use of electronic assessment may allow educators to integrate assessment with instruction to produce powerful learning tools.