As test owners are having to navigate digital transformation, new regulatory environments and greater competition in the marketplace, we asked Bridget and Julie how clients’ exam programs are adapting to the latest changes.
Q. There’s a lot of talk in the industry right now about the ‘Future of Edtech’ and how technology is changing the computer-based testing (CBT) landscape, but from your own conversations with exam owners, what do they see as their most immediate priorities?
Julie: Our clients are focused on the reliability of the test as well as the people they partner with in delivering it. They ask themselves ‘Does this test measure what I need it to test?’, ‘Do we have medics or drivers out there who shouldn’t be there?’ That's the key thing that matters at the end of the day. And underpinning all of this is security; maintaining the security of their exams and having robust measures in place (whichever test method they’re using), is essential to maintain the value of a credential.
Bridget: Organizations want to stay relevant. How do you make sure that employers value a certification, so that when employers are hiring, they’re getting the right people? Today’s jobs have completely evolved from what they were 10 years’ ago, and we know that so many of the jobs that will exist 5-10 years from now don’t exist today.
Q. So how focused are clients on the latest technology trends? Is there demand for integrating the very latest technology as part of their testing programs?
Bridget: Technology is pushing the boundaries around what assessment is. A well-known client in the IT space is looking at using virtual reality in its exams and considering how best to do this. We have some clients that are pushing the boundaries while others are working to keep pace with the way technology is changing the world.
Julie: They might talk about it (new technology), but for many the technology still isn't quite there. They’re certainly aware of it, and they want to learn more about it, but it's more about how they can actually use it to benefit their exam programs.
Q. How do you see technology redefining how people earn and embrace new skills and ultimately get credentialed?
Julie: We’ve been deploying technology to score candidates in their oral assessments and written tasks for 10 years now, so redefining how people get credentialed with technology is in many ways, already happening. It’s just that not much is known about it. You have to find the right balance between what the market expects and what it demands, and then introduce new technologies at the right time.
Bridget: Organizations have to figure out how to meet the learners on their journey, and at the most advantageous point, to get the most bang for their buck. In today's world, if you look at how the big online retail players operate (by responding rapidly to consumer needs), and if you think about people's lives today, people are looking at ways to improve their learning, that fits into their lifestyle. Look at the evolution of micro-credentials, they are just one example of how the traditional credential or license is evolving.
Q. So if candidates are already willing to embrace new technologies around how they want to learn, are these new technologies going to open doors to a much wider range of people?
Julie: Yes. With CBT you can take an exam near you, and quite often you can get the results very quickly depending on the client’s requirements. All in all it means there are fewer delays when applying for the job you want; you know what your career pathway is going to turn into much more quickly.
For the exam itself, assisted technologies are a key growth area. For example, screen readers that read the test back to you, larger text that zooms in and out, or sign language videos that help people who are hard of hearing. It’s about leveraging technology where it can be used to measure performance in a better way and make the tests as accessible as possible to a wider audience.
Q. What's the opportunity for companies in the testing industry with the way technology is evolving?
Julie: It’s very much about broadening the scope for candidates through exam programs that evolve with the candidates’ needs.
You might not just test them once — there could be multiple touchpoints throughout their career (or lifetime) when their knowledge is assessed. It’s the ‘cradle to grave’ concept — you’re always learning some kind of new skills, you practice these and then you take a test and get a certification. We then capture what candidates thought of the test to help us improve it — it’s an evolving cycle for everyone.
Bridget: The challenge for exam owners is where can technology enhance and streamline any bumps in the ‘learning road’, and conversely, where is it just not helpful? People appear to be pursuing Artificial Intelligence for everything, but it doesn't mean it actually helps with everything. You have to make sure the technology is suited to the situation you are going to use it in.
When you look at the real definition of EdTech, it's basically that technology supports education and that’s something our industry should never lose sight of.