“Computer Adaptive Test; An Efficient students’ Abilities Measurement tool”.

         

 Please send your valuable suggestions 

  “Computer Adaptive Test; An Efficient students’ Abilities Measurement tool”. ‘University News’, Journal of Higher Education, February 25-March 03 2013  Vol.51, No.8, New Delhi.ISSN-0566-2257.

 

Computer Adaptive Test - An efficient measurement tool of students’ abilities through innovative test delivery model

Daphine Daniel, Lecturer, American College, Madurai &

Dr.P. Sivakumar, Professor of Education, DDE, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630 003

ABSTRACT

Assessment can be the basic for improvement in learning and has become a hot topic among educators across the country. Our examinations do not really reflect the true learning and it is not the benchmark for judging the quality. Several initiatives have contributed to the increased need for quality assessment, which gives information regarding strengths and weaknesses, skills & abilities to plan activities accordingly. The success in the great enterprise of national reconstruction, whose principal objective is to raise the standard of living of our people, depends on the quality of persons coming out. Any evidence that reveals progress towards the goals of education should be used in evaluation. This evidence need not be restricted to the paper and pencil devices. For the improvement in the quality of education, the evaluation system has to be improved, by which a thorough mastery of subject matter can be achieved. One such system of evaluation can be achieved by technology in education i.e. computer based testing. Utilization of technology in evaluation is relatively meager as compared to other domains.

Assessment systems must be carefully designed to ensure that they provide information that fulfills the purpose for assessment and to increase the likelihood of improving the quality. Traditional test fails to assess the innate potential of the learners. Even technology has limits; it does not have the advantage of increased understanding of specific human abilities. Efforts are made to modernize the traditional test. There has been a significant movement towards measuring specific abilities as alternatives to traditional tests. This new breed of tests includes the computer based testing. This paper discusses a system of technology based evaluation with special reference to Computer Adaptive Test (CAT), and its objectives, development, advantages and limitations. The CAT is very much useful for ability estimation and identification of innate potential, which are  needed for quality enhancement.

Full Paper http://www.aiuweb.org/university/universitynews.asp