Toward Resilient Online Assessments: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

This chapter aims to explore the reality of using online assessment systems during COVID-19 and critically reviews the existing models based on testing standards and the authors’ experience. These can help educators and assessment practitioners in selecting suitable online models/solutions and help test providers in upgrading existing solutions to adapt to the emerging characteristics of the institutional changes in testing and assessment caused by the COVID-19 crisis. The authors have conducted an exploratory survey of needs about assessment of users’ attitudes and adopted a classification of online assessment models. They have explored the key features of each category of these models, referring to its pros and cons. Based on the characteristics of each model, the chapter has concluded about how to use each model for a certain type of assessment (high, medium, and low stakes) and has predicted the disappearance of the non-proctored secure exams. Based on the analysis and evaluation of the various models and common practices that have been adopted during COVID-19, and in terms of the available technologies, some recommendations have been identified for each group of assessment stakeholders: educational policymakers, test designers, educators, administrators, IT professionals, and researchers in the field of educational technology.