MOVING HIGH STAKES ASSESSMENTS TO DIGITAL PLATFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

Student success is critical in higher education. Measuring student success in higher education comprises of student support for retention, achievement and throughput, and to ensure employability of students. In addition, it can also be viewed through the important lens of transformation, equality and diversification. In South Africa the National Benchmark Test was developed to ensure that student was ready for university and through a diagnostic analysis it is able to provide an early warning system. The assessment has always been a pencil and paper format, however the sudden shift during the 2020 pandemic, from contact to remote digital learning platforms brought about unique challenges to the South African (SA) education landscape forcing learners into unfamiliar pathways. Similarly, the facilitation of assessments via online platforms presented new, uncharted challenges. The purpose of this technical research paper is to document the digitisation project from a paper-based test to an Online perspective and describe the @NBT Online system migration from a project and technical management perspective. Consultations were held with stakeholders to brainstorm possible solutions that would assist the Centre for Educational Assessments in responding to the global pandemic which led to a partnership with Territorium Life. Territorium had an online platform known as EdTest-AI, a software as a service (SaaS) solution, which combined proprietary software that uses Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services, Azure App Service, and Azure Database for My Standard Query Language (SQL) to deliver remote test proctoring, including verifying student identity and monitoring the room during an assessment. The digitisation of the NBT assessment was initiated on 1 June 2020 and completed by 12 July 2020, thus taking a total of 35 days to complete with the first pilot @NBT Online successfully administered on Saturday, 25 July 2020. The cost-effective and innovative SaaS approach implemented for this project is the first of its kind to be used in South Africa. Taking a high-stakes assessment digitally allowed the Centre for Educational Assessments’ department to expand the types of services, reports, and products offered. Thus, this project is envisaged to support the departmental and institutional plans in highlighting the needs that require innovation, new approaches, new service models and the adoption of new and emerging technologies.