School assessments are transforming with educators adopting competency-based evaluations, online tests, and other new-age methodologies. Legacy examination management systems fall short of enabling such emerging needs. Modern school ERP platforms provide far greater flexibility to customize assessments as per institutional objectives and pedagogical innovations.
This article provides insights into emerging trends in student evaluations and how purpose-built ERP solutions help educational institutions deliver on customized assessment requirements.
Emerging Trends Driving New Assessment Models
Some key factors disrupting traditional student examinations are:
- Shift from knowledge-based to competency-based evaluations
- Continuous assessments gaining precedence over high-stakes finals
- Growth of open book tests to measure analytical skills
- Increasing technology integration for online/hybrid assessments
- Personalizing question difficulties based on individual capabilities
- Incorporating gamification, simulations and group tasks
- Leveraging analytics and AI for smarter result processing
- Enabling access through mobile devices for on-the-go assessments
These trends demand more flexible and customizable examination management capabilities.
Benefits of Customized Assessments Enabled by ERP
Future-ready school management ERP systems for academics allow institutions to break away from rigid evaluation structures and enables benefits like:
- Competency-based assessment templates to test specific skills
- Flexible scheduling of continuous assessment activities
- Configurable test duration and question patterns
- Randomized questions of tailored difficulty levels
- Support for open book and online test formats
- Multi-format evaluations – text, images, audio, video
- Group assessments and proctored online tests
- Automated analytics-based result processing
- Secure restricted access during remote online exams
Next, let us examine how ERP solutions provide the framework to facilitate customized assessments.
ERP Capabilities to Enable Customized Exams
Test Engine
Create structured test templates catering to specific competencies, question types etc. Add randomized sections.
Flexible Scheduling
Configure continuous assessments interspersed across learning journeys.
Multi-format Question Banks
Store question text, images, audio, video for insertion across test templates. Global randomizer for unique sets.
Test Rules Configuration
Define test duration, question count, shuffling of options, mandatory sections etc. on a per-assessment basis.
Student and Course Linkage
Link students and courses for auto test generation based on coursework.
Remote Proctoring
Monitor and control student systems during online exams to prevent malpractices.
Automated Grading
AI capabilities for quick evaluation of short text/essay responses based on sample answers.
Custom Analytics
Get assessment reports analyzing performance across competencies, topics, question types etc.
Integrated Mobile Apps
Secure browser-based test taking apps for BYOD flexibility.
Conclusion
Customizing assessments provides acute benefits aligned to new age learning theories and models. School ERP platforms that allow configuring different examination parameters on a per-test basis provides institutions the agility to meet diverse, evolving needs. Tight integration of test authoring, automated grading, flexible scheduling, remote monitoring and analytics enables schools to gain a competitive edge.
How are competency-based assessments different from conventional tests?
Focus on practical application of knowledge versus theoretical understanding. Evaluates specific skills.
What question types are gaining prominence apart from MCQs?
Short essays, case studies, group projects, simulations, audio/video formats etc. for well-rounded assessment.
How do online exams differ from paper-based tests?
Anytime scheduling, remote proctoring, device flexibility for students, instant result processing using ERP integration.
How can open book exams be securely conducted online?
Question randomization, proctoring, plagiarism checks etc. for open book tests. More emphasis on analysis.
What are the risks educational institutes need to address?
Ensuring platform reliability during peak loads, question bank security, access control and training students on online exam practices.
