The 2024 IAEA (International Association for Educational Assessment) conference, themed “How Can AI Help Improve Education Assessments,” served as a global platform for education experts to explore the impact of emerging technologies on educational assessments. In her opening remarks, IAEA President Ms. Mary Pitoniak noted that the theme underscores the growing complexities in educational assessment, particularly with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a pivotal role in measuring students’ knowledge and skills.
Held from September 22 to 25, 2024, and hosted by ETS in Philadelphia, the 49th IAEA conference brought together assessment experts from across the globe to discuss the transformative potential of AI. Sessions delved into how AI can reshape assessment systems, with a focus on enhancing the evaluation of not just cognitive abilities but also social, emotional, and 21st-century skills. The conference emphasized the need for modern assessments that reflect diverse competencies and cater to evolving educational landscapes.
Key topics discussed included the ethical implications of AI in assessments, maintaining fairness and security, and ensuring that AI-enhanced assessments truly capture the breadth of skills required for success in today’s world. Expert-led sessions like “Validity Issues in the Use of AI in Assessment” and “Will AI Help or Hinder Classroom Formative Assessment?” addressed these themes in depth.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised critical concerns about the potential risks of using personalized items in large-scale examinations. This was discussed during the 2024 International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) conference,which was held in Philadelphia, USA. Leading a four-person delegation, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, warned that personalized exam items could exacerbate issues related to equity, access, and fairness.
Prof. Oloyede highlighted that personalized items, while seemingly tailored to individual needs, could widen resource disparities and introduce biases. Moreover, concerns over data privacy and the focus on individualization were central to his address, urging for a cautious approach to such practices in large-scale assessments.
Representatives from Nigeria, including officials from the National Examinations Council (NECO), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the Nigerian National Assembly, joined the conference. Prof. Oloyede’s delegation from JAMB included Doom Iyortyom, Director of Quality Assurance; Funmilola B-Usman, Director of Information Technology Services; and Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Public Communications Advisor.
The IAEA continues to foster international collaboration among educational agencies, with the goal of improving assessment practices globally. As AI becomes more integrated into educational systems, the discussions at the 2024 IAEA conference will likely shape the future of assessment, ensuring that fairness, equity, and accuracy remain at the forefront.
This comprehensive exploration of AI’s role in education, coupled with JAMB’s caution on personalized items, highlights the ongoing efforts to create assessment systems that benefit all students, irrespective of their background or resources.
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