The Test Community.Network

Tim Burnett

Welcome to the Test Community Network, your go-to weekly update on everything about assessment and testing. Tim Burnett and special guests will help you find the latest chances to explore and connect in the diverse world of assessment and testing. Discover new events, webinars, and podcasts, plus get inspiration from the Test Community Network marketplace. For more information visit: https://www.testcommunity.network

  1. -12 H

    2nd April: Exams, Coursework or Both? What the OECD Found Across 38 Countries with Lena Gray and Rebecca Frankum

    In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Dr Lena Gray and Rebecca Frankum, a consultant assessment researcher and a policy analyst at the OECD respectively. They discuss:The findings from the OECD's major new report mapping 71 upper secondary certificates across 38 education systems worldwideWhy polarised debates around exams versus teacher-based assessment don't hold up in practice, and the four principles, relevance, credibility, fairness and manageability, for evaluating fitness for purposeHow higher education, assessment culture and political pressures shape reform, and why there is no single "perfect" approach to certificationThe report, The Theory and Practice of Upper Secondary Certification, is one of the most comprehensive international studies of high-stakes assessment at the upper secondary level. Rebecca explains how the OECD's mapping exercise revealed that the most common model worldwide is a blend of internal assessment and external exams working together, challenging the assumption that systems must choose one or the other.Lena explores why continuous assessment, often seen as reducing pressure on learners, can in fact create its own burdens, with students reporting they feel constantly assessed. Both highlight the importance of context: what works in one system may not translate to another, and deeply held assessment cultures can prove remarkably resistant to reform. Looking ahead, future research will focus on marking, moderation and standard setting, as well as the often-overlooked student experience of these high-stakes systems.Read the full report: The Theory and Practice of Upper Secondary Certification (OECD, published 28 January 2026)https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/the-theory-and-practice-of-upper-secondary-certification_b3fea5ba-en.htmlConnect with Dr Lena Gray on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lena-gray-assessment-researcher/Connect with Rebecca Frankum on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-frankum-81a444166/Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chatEvents: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-eventsPodcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcastsMarketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplaceSubscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

    28 min

  2. -6 J

    Webinar: Using AI to Generate Question Items PLUS New Guide Published

    A Practical Guide to Authoring Test Items with Artificial IntelligenceTim Burnett, Founder of the Test Community Network, is publishing a brand-new guide: A Practical Guide to Authoring Test Items with Artificial Intelligence. In this live session, Tim will walk you through the guide, sharing the key findings, practical techniques, and insights gathered during a research sprint conducted with practitioners, psychometricians, and assessment professionals from across the international community.What the Guide CoversThe guide tackles one of the most pressing questions facing assessment organisations today: how do you use AI to generate high-quality multiple-choice items without compromising on validity, fairness, or security?Rather than treating AI as a magic button that produces ready-made questions, the guide sets out a structured, evidence-informed approach. It recognises that introducing AI into item authoring fundamentally changes the workflow — shifting the skill requirement from writing questions to instructing AI how to write questions well.What Tim Will Cover in the WebinarDuring the session, Tim will take you through the highlights of the guide, including:The two-stage prompt workflow — One of the guide's central recommendations is that item generation should not be treated as a single-step process. The first stage focuses on generating the question stem and correct answer, grounded in approved source material. Only once these have been reviewed and approved should distractors be generated in a second stage. This approach addresses a common pitfall: when stems, keys, and distractors are generated together, edits to one element can silently undermine the others.Different approaches to AI-assisted authoring — There is no single way to implement AI in your item development process. Tim will explore the practical trade-offs between using conversational chat assistants, configurable AI agents, and dedicated SaaS-based authoring platforms. Each comes with its own strengths and constraints, from the flexibility of building your own agent architecture to the structured workflows offered by embedded platforms.Tips and techniques from the research — Tim will share the practical lessons discovered during the sprint, including how to craft prompts that produce genuinely plausible distractors (not just random wrong answers), why uploading entire textbooks as context can do more harm than good, how to manage token costs without sacrificing quality, and why a "blind review" style SME answer check can prevent anchoring bias.Insights from the assessment community — The guide draws on contributions from practitioners across the sector. Tim will share some of the most valuable insights that emerged, from the challenges of keeping SMEs meaningfully engaged when AI drafts become increasingly polished, to the often-overlooked security risk of item pre-exposure when independent users generate similar items from similar prompts.

    49 min

  3. 18 MARS

    19th March - Don't Chase the Tools — Build Your AI Pedagogy First, with Med Kharbach

    In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Med Kharbach, PhD, an educator, researcher, and part-time faculty member at Mount Saint Vincent University.They discuss:- AI literacy for educators and students — what AI-literate students do differently and why freely available practitioner guides matter more than academic jargon- Rethinking assessment design in an AI-saturated world — moving from traditional submissions towards layered, process-focused approaches that value critical thinking over polished outputs- Building an AI-forward mindset — why pedagogy should come before tools, and why a single chatbot with strong prompting skills can be more powerful than a dozen subscriptionsMed shares his journey from teaching English as a foreign language to becoming a leading voice in AI and education, with multiple publications for integrating AI into learning.The conversation explores the rapid evolution of AI capabilities, from the early days of garbled text in AI-generated images to today's near-undetectable outputs, and what that means for academic integrity.Med advocates for assessment methods that make the learning process visible, such as reflective journals, chat log analysis, and oral defences, whilst acknowledging the scalability challenges teachers face with larger class sizes.The episode closes with Med's advice to educators: embrace AI, focus on your pedagogy first, and don't chase every shiny new tool, a mainstream chatbot and solid prompting skills are more than enough to get started.Explore Med Kharbach's research and free educator guides: https://medkharbach.com/Connect with Med Kharbach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkharbach/Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chatEvents: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-eventsPodcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcastsMarketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplaceSubscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

    31 min

  4. 18 MARS

    12th March - The AO Forum Returns: Regulator Panels, Deception Devices, and Compliance with Ben Smith at Gordon Associates

    In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Ben Smith, from Gordon Associates. They discuss the upcoming AO Forum 2026, the evolving role of AI in awarding bodies, and what's new across Gordon Associates' product suite.They discuss:The AO Forum 2026 – What to expect from this year's event on 22nd April in London, including a heavyweight regulator panel featuring Ofqual, Qualification Wales, SQA, and Skills England, plus standout speakers from Vetskill, Innovate, and ASRG.AI adoption in the awarding body world – How awarding organisations are exploring AI to streamline day-to-day tasks, and how Gordon Associates are embedding AI functionality into their Monarch governance and compliance platform.Examination security and deception devices – The growing sophistication of cheating tools, from social engineering to agentic AI platforms, and why awareness is more important than ever.Ben shares how the AO Forum has become an essential fixture in the sector calendar — a relaxed, informal day where awarding bodies can hear directly from regulators, connect with peers facing similar challenges, and take away practical insights. He also gives an update on Gordon Associates' plans for AI integration into Monarch, plus the changes they're preparing for in the EPA world with their Talus software ahead of the upcoming framework reforms. Tim and Ben also touch on the fascinating and slightly unsettling world of examination cheating, previewing Niamh from ASRG closing talk on deception devices.The AO Forum takes place on 22nd April at Woburn House, London. Early bird tickets are £150+VAT if booked before the end of March.Register for the forum: https://www.awardingorganisation.com/Connect with Ben Smith on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-smith-15a448144/Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chatEvents: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-eventsPodcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcastsMarketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplaceSubscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

    21 min

  5. 4 MARS

    5th March: Breaking the Mould: Using Escape Rooms to Rethink Assessment with Dr Erin Leeming

    In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Dr. Erin Leeming, Doctor of Speech and Language Pathology at the University of Central Florida. They discuss: - Using an escape room as an alternative assessment method for a phonetics class, and how it reduced student anxiety while revealing deeper learning - The role of immersive technology, including a hologram machine, in creating realistic clinical experiences for students - Why rethinking traditional exams can build learner confidence and better prepare students for real-world practice Dr. Erin Leeming shares how her own experience with ADHD inspired her to design assessments that move beyond traditional exams. She walks us through the escape room she built for her phonetics students, where teams decoded the International Phonetic Alphabet to solve puzzles and "escape." Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many saying they didn't realise how much they knew until they experienced assessment this way. Erin also previews her next project — using a hologram of a real patient to give students a lifelike clinical assessment experience before they enter the field. Tim and Erin explore the broader need to evolve assessment practices, especially in an era of AI and academic integrity challenges, and discuss how technology can make assessment both more meaningful and more fun. Connect with Dr. Erin Leeming on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-leeming-24a004296/ Escape Room Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxZoV5sRmho Hologram Clip from UCF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44d0E75w_PM Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/ If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

    21 min

  6. 3 MARS

    How STA Is Making AI Marking Work — Responsibly and on Their Own Terms

    Safety Training Awards didn't go looking for an AI marking solution — but a chance conversation led them to sAInaptic, and it's already transforming how their tutors deliver feedback on swimming teacher lesson plans. In this episode, STA's Director of Education Kaylë Brightwell joins sAInaptic co-founders Raj Iyer and Kavitha Ravindran to share what happened when they took the leap — from impressing regulators to getting detailed, criteria-referenced feedback back to learners in eight seconds flat. Read more about the webinar here:https://testcommunity.network/how-sta-is-making-ai-marking-work-responsibly-and-on-their-own-terms Visit sAInaptic: https://www.sainaptic.com/ Connect with Kaylë: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayle-brightwell-b2a199b1/ Connect with Raj: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajiyer26/ Connect with Kavitha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kravindran/

    53 min

  7. 19 FÉVR.

    19th Feb: Breaking Through the Complexity Wall with AI Teammates

    In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with E.W. Looney, CEO and Founder of BrightLink, a technology company and advisory firm specialising in credentialing programme management.They discuss:- The Complexity Wall in Credentialing - How programmes hit predictable scaling challenges when manual processes break down under volume and regulatory scrutiny- AI Teammates in Operations - BrightLink's AI agents Rosie and Scout that work alongside staff to manage applications, eligibility, bursary requests, and candidate communications- The Future of Technology Interfaces - Model Context Protocol (MCP), the shift from forms to conversational AI, and how natural language interfaces are transforming candidate experiencesE.W. shares BrightLink's 19-year journey from custom software development to becoming a leader in credentialing technology, explaining how they help organisations manage the full lifecycle of candidate records, from applications and eligibility through to assessment results, renewals, and continuing education.The conversation explores the "complexity wall" that credentialing programmes face when spreadsheets and email heroics can no longer handle increased volume, scope expansion, or regulatory requirements. E.W. explains how programmes often have to choose between hiring more staff or letting standards slip, neither of which is sustainable.BrightLink's approach centres on using AI as a teammate rather than a replacement. Rosie, their AI agent, handles tasks like evaluating bursary documentation using computer vision, whilst maintaining the critical distinction between probabilistic AI decisions and deterministic system-of-record accuracy. E.W. emphasises the importance of context in building quality AI solutions and how MCP bridges the gap between AI capabilities and official systems.Looking ahead, E.W. discusses how AI has raised both the ceiling of what's possible and the floor of what's expected, candidates now expect instant responses and real-time updates, whilst regulators demand ISO compliance and data residency.The conversation touches on emerging natural language interfaces that could allow candidates to book test centres conversationally, and the exciting design challenges of choosing the right interface for each use case.Connect with E.W. Looney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewlooney/Learn more about BrightLink: https://thebrightlink.com/Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chatEvents: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-eventsPodcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcastsMarketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplaceSubscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

    29 min

  8. 11 FÉVR.

    12th Feb: Assessment Horizons 2026: Feedback, Failure, and the Future of Learning

    In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Rosie Applin and Dr Simon Child from Cambridge University Press & Assessment about the upcoming Assessment Horizons Conference 2026. They discuss: The emotional science of feedback and why understanding learners' emotional responses is critical for effective assessment design — featuring keynote speaker Anastasiya A. LipnevichHow "productive failure" can deepen learning and act as a counterbalance to concerns about AI reducing cognitive load — featuring keynote speaker Professor Manu KapurThe ongoing tension between AI innovation and maintaining proven learning methods, including surprising research on the enduring value of handwriting for comprehension and retentionThe conversation covers all the practical details of this year's conference, taking place on 23–24 April in Cambridge and online, now in its third year. Rosie explains how the programme has been shaped by survey responses from around 160 professionals, with AI and assessment emerging as a dominant theme — from ethical considerations to integrating AI across the assessment lifecycle. Simon shares a preview of his own research presentation comparing parental trust in assessment data between England and Australia, revealing fascinating cultural differences in how parents engage with school reporting. The episode also touches on the value of in-person networking for assessment professionals, the complementary online offer for international attendees, and the wider work of the Assessment Horizons community. Early bird tickets close on 27 February, saving around £50 on the ticket price. Conference details and tickets: https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/events/assessment-horizons-2026/ Find out more about the keynote speakers:Professor Manu Kapur: https://www.manukapur.comAnastasiya A. Lipnevich: https://www.anastasiyalipnevich.com/ Cambridge research — Note taking more effective than AI for learning: https://www.cambridge.org/news-and-insights/note-taking-more-effective-than-ai-for-learning Connect with Rosie Applin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosieapplin/Connect with Dr Simon Child on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-simon-child-44073656/ Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/ If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

    24 min
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À propos

Welcome to the Test Community Network, your go-to weekly update on everything about assessment and testing. Tim Burnett and special guests will help you find the latest chances to explore and connect in the diverse world of assessment and testing. Discover new events, webinars, and podcasts, plus get inspiration from the Test Community Network marketplace. For more information visit: https://www.testcommunity.network

Informations

  • Création
    Tim Burnett
  • Années d’activité
    2023 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    83
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © Tim Burnett
  • Site web de l’émission
    The Test Community.Network