Assessment Developer

An assessment developer is responsible for creating and administering assessments that measure skills, knowledge, or abilities. They may also be involved in developing and validating assessment tools and procedures.

Responsibilities

Assessment developers typically perform the following duties:

• Create and administer assessments that measure skills, knowledge, or abilities
• Develop and validate assessment tools and procedures
• Interpret and analyze assessment results
• Provide feedback to test takers and other stakeholders
• Stay up-to-date on best practices in assessment

Education and Training

Assessment developers typically need a master's degree in assessment, measurement, or a related field. They may also need to be certified by a professional organization, such as the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME).

Skills

Assessment developers need the following skills:

• Strong understanding of assessment principles and practices
• Ability to develop and validate assessment tools and procedures
• Ability to interpret and analyze assessment results
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Career Outlook

The job outlook for assessment developers is expected to be good over the next few years. As the demand for assessment increases, so will the need for qualified assessment developers.

Career Growth

Assessment developers can advance their careers by becoming assessment directors or managers. They may also move into roles in research or development.

Transferable Skills

The skills that assessment developers acquire can be transferred to other careers, such as:

• Instructional design
• Human resources
• Data analysis

Day-to-Day of an Assessment Developer

A typical day for an assessment developer might include:

• Developing assessment items
• Administering assessments
• Scoring and interpreting assessment results
• Providing feedback to test takers
• Attending meetings

Challenges

Assessment developers face a number of challenges, including:

• The need to stay up-to-date on best practices in assessment
• The challenge of developing assessments that are both valid and reliable
• The need to deal with resistance from test takers

Projects

Assessment developers may work on a variety of projects, including:

• Developing a new assessment system for a school district
• Validating a new assessment tool
• Evaluating the effectiveness of an existing assessment program

Personal Growth Opportunities

Assessment developers have the opportunity to grow professionally by:

• Attending conferences and workshops
• Reading professional journals
• Conducting research

Personality Traits and Personal Interests

Assessment developers are typically:

• Analytical
• Detail-oriented
• Organized
• Patient
• Interested in research

Self-Guided Projects

Students who are interested in becoming assessment developers can complete a number of self-guided projects to better prepare themselves for this role, including:

• Creating an assessment plan
• Developing assessment items
• Administering an assessment
• Scoring and interpreting assessment results

Online Courses

Online courses can be a great way to learn about assessment development. These courses can provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this role. Online courses typically cover topics such as assessment principles, assessment design, and assessment interpretation.

Through lecture videos, projects, assignments, quizzes, exams, discussions, and interactive labs, these courses can help students develop the skills they need to be successful assessment developers. For example, projects and assignments can give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. Discussions and interactive labs can allow students to collaborate with other students and get feedback from instructors.

While online courses alone may not be enough to prepare someone for a career as an assessment developer, they can be a helpful learning tool that can bolster the chances of success for entering this career.