Higher education assessing in the age of AI from edX

This course is structured around three themes:

What is the role of assessment in HE?

The advancement of AI is changing the way we live, work and learn. So, here we look at the question: How will increasingly sophisticated AI-tools impact assessment in higher education? While AI-powered tools can assist with assessment design and provide individualised feedback, there have also been concerns about its impact on the integrity of summative assessment tasks. We will discuss the use of AI in conjunction with human integrity and judgement.

Reimagining HE assessment in the age of AI

The logical follow-up question is: How do we respond to the impact of AI-use on assessment in higher education? Initial reactions to the potential impact of AI on assessment were to revert to invigilated or verbal examinations or to design assessments that cannot be answered by AI. Another alternative is to consider embracing AI-powered tools to develop students’ higher-order thinking and evaluative judgement through authentic assessment. Reimagining assessment practices in the age of AI requires us to consider the purposes of the assessment and address the need for authentic and relevant activities. In addition, we will model how AI can be used by students to engage critically and ethically with their own work or the work of others without establishing overreliance on AI. Actualising assessment in the age of AI will focus on authentic and more efficient assessments and collaborative learning without undermining academic integrity.

Actualise assessment in the age of AI

The final question is: How can AI-powered tools be used more intentionally in a fair, ethical and supportive way in both formative and summative assessment? This requires being prepared to adapt teaching practices to accommodate the changing nature of assessment and a willingness to experiment with new approaches and being open to feedback from students. Participants will reflect on staying relevant and effective in preparing students for the future.

What you'll learn

This course is designed for any professional involved with teaching in the higher education context, who is interested in exploring the intersection between user-facing generative AI tools and education.

At the end of this course, participants be able to:

Discuss how to reposition assessment in support of learning and developing evaluative judgement in an AI-infused world.
Critically reflect on the integrity of summative assessment in the context of AI.
Leverage the use of AI tools for learning in formative assessment and feedback, for example in multi-stage assessments and group work activities.
Create AI-powered assessment and feedback tools that are fair, ethical, and supportive, including rubrics and generated case studies.
Highlight the criticality of a values-based approach to responsible AI use in assessment of student learning in higher education.

What's inside

Learning objectives

how to reposition assessment in support of learning and developing evaluative judgement in an ai-infused world.
Multi-stage assessments and group work activities.

Reate ai-powered assessment and feedback tools that are fair, ethical, and supportive, including rubrics and generated case studies.

how to reposition assessment in support of learning and developing evaluative judgement in an ai-infused world.
Multi-stage assessments and group work activities.
Reate ai-powered assessment and feedback tools that are fair, ethical, and supportive, including rubrics and generated case studies.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the role of assessment in higher education, which is standard in higher education

Led by Hanelie Adendorff, Magriet de Villiers, Dalene Joubert, Melissa van der Vyver, Jan Petrus Bosman, and Sonja Strydom, notable figures in AI higher education assessment

Develops use of AI in conjunction with human integrity and judgement, which are important skills in the age of AI

Relevant to instructors and educators as it explores how AI advances assessment

Offers practical skills through hands-on exercises and examples of assessment design

Remains accessible to beginners while also challenging for more seasoned assessment designers

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Higher education assessing in the age of AI with these activities:

Review basic statistics

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Review foundational statistical concepts you may have forgotten to refresh your memory and ensure you're ready for the course.

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Go over notes or textbooks from previous statistics courses.
Take practice quizzes or exams.
Complete online tutorials or refresher courses.

Follow tutorials on statistical software

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Become familiar with statistical software by following tutorials can enhance your ability to analyze data and perform statistical procedures.

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Identify statistical software commonly used in the field.
Find online tutorials or courses that cover the basics of the software.
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises.

Solve practice problems

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Solving practice problems can help you grasp statistical concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and improve your ability to apply statistical techniques.

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Find practice problems from textbooks, online resources, or previous exams.
Allocate dedicated time for solving problems regularly.
Review the solutions and identify areas where you need improvement.

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Attend statistical workshops or seminars

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Workshops and seminars provide opportunities to learn from experts, network with peers, and stay updated on the latest statistical techniques.

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Identify relevant workshops or seminars in your area or online.
Register and attend the events.
Actively participate in discussions and ask questions.

Create statistical visualizations

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Creating statistical visualizations can help you understand data, communicate results, and develop your data visualization skills.

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Choose a dataset and identify the key variables you want to visualize.
Select appropriate visualization techniques and create the visuals using statistical software or online tools.
Interpret the visualizations and draw meaningful conclusions.

Participate in data analysis competitions

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Identify relevant data analysis competitions.
Form a team or work independently.
Develop and implement a data analysis strategy.

Conduct a small-scale statistical research project

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Conducting a research project allows you to apply statistical techniques to solve a real-world problem, develop your research skills, and contribute to the body of knowledge in your field.

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Identify a research question and develop a hypothesis.
Collect and analyze data.
Interpret the results and draw conclusions.

Mentor junior students or peers

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Mentoring others can reinforce your understanding of statistical concepts, improve your communication skills, and contribute to the development of the next generation of statisticians.

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Identify opportunities to mentor others, such as volunteering as a tutor or assisting in workshops.
Share your knowledge and experience with mentees.
Provide guidance and support to help them develop their statistical skills.

Career center

Learners who complete Higher education assessing in the age of AI will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers design, develop, and implement educational programs and courses. Understanding the role of assessment is critical, as is the ability to adapt curriculum to learning outcomes. This course will help Curriculum Developers understand user-facing generative AI tools and education, providing insights to help tailor programs to accommodate the changing nature of assessment and to develop students’ higher-order thinking and evaluative judgement.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop, implement, and evaluate instructional programs and materials. They must have a strong understanding of how to create assessments that are fair, valid, and reliable. The course Higher education assessing in the age of AI dives deep into the intersection between user-facing generative AI tools and education and how AI and assessment can be used fairly, ethically, and support learning.

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Educational Researcher

Educational Researchers conduct research on teaching and learning. They may study the effectiveness of different teaching methods, the impact of technology on education, or the development of new assessment tools. The course Higher education assessing in the age of AI would likely be of interest to those seeking to conduct research in the fields of assessment, artificial intelligence, and/or education technology.

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Educational Technology Specialist

Educational Technology Specialists help faculty and students integrate technology into the learning process. They may also provide training and support on educational software and hardware. This course will help Educational Technology Specialists understand how to use AI to create assessments that are engaging and effective. The course also explores how to reimagine assessment practices in the age of AI and how to use AI to develop students’ higher-order thinking and evaluative judgement.

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Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants provide advice and support to schools and other educational organizations. They may help develop curriculum, improve teaching methods, or evaluate educational programs. This course will help Educational Consultants stay up-to-date on the latest trends in assessment and how to use AI to support teaching and learning.

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Higher Education Administrator

Higher Education Administrators oversee the operations of colleges and universities. They may be responsible for academic affairs, student affairs, finance, or human resources. This course helps Higher Education Administrator develop a more nuanced understanding of assessment practices and to explore how AI can be used to support teaching and learning.

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Learning Scientist

Learning Scientists study how people learn. They may research the effectiveness of different teaching methods, the impact of technology on learning, or the development of new learning tools. The course will provide Learning Scientists with theoretical knowledge and practical applications of AI and assessment that they can leverage for future research and educational interventions.

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Psychometrician

Psychometricians develop, administer, and interpret psychological tests and assessments. They may also conduct research on the validity and reliability of these tests. This course provides Psychometricians with an understanding of how AI can be used to create assessments that are fair, valid, and reliable.

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Measurement and Evaluation Specialist

Measurement and Evaluation Specialists and evaluate educational programs and student learning. They may also develop and implement assessment tools. This course offers Measurement and Evaluation Specialists a valuable opportunity to learn about using AI in summative assessments.

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School Psychologist

School Psychologists help students with academic, social, and emotional problems. They may also provide counseling to parents and teachers. This course may be useful for School Psychologists who want to learn more about using AI in assessment and intervention.

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Classroom Teacher

Classroom Teachers plan and implement instruction for students. They may also assess student learning and provide feedback. While this course may be somewhat adjacent to a typical classroom teacher's role, an interest in the utilization of AI tools within and outside of one's own teaching methods may indicate a path toward a future EdTech coaching or leadership role.

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Professor

Professors teach undergraduate and graduate students. They may also conduct research and publish their findings. This course helps Professors understand how to use AI to improve their teaching and assessment practices.

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Associate Professor

Associate Professors teach undergraduate and graduate students. They may also conduct research and publish their findings. This course helps Associate Professors understand how to use AI to create assessments that are fair, valid, and reliable.

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Assistant Professor

Assistant Professors teach undergraduate and graduate students. They may also conduct research and publish their findings. This course helps Assistant Professors understand how to create assessments that are relevant for their field and to identify potential biases that may be unintentionally incorporated into the assessment.

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Educational Software Designer

Educational Software Designers develop educational software and games. They may also work with teachers and students to implement these products in the classroom. This course allows Educational Software Designers to collaborate in a shared space where the criticality and utility of AI in education can be discussed and actualized.

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