Revolutionising Assessment in Education
The Role Of AI In Grading
Within the Education sector, a paradigm shift is occurring. There are a number of new techniques available for the marking and assessment of student work. These approaches are revolutionising the way in which unstructured documents and files are assessed, providing objectivity, consistency and opportunities for greatly enhanced analytics. Artificial Intelligence is at the heart of these changes, and the use of Large Language Models, (LLMs) provide an opportunity for huge levels of efficiencies for the whole of the sector.
Traditionally, the task of marking has been a labour-intensive activity, often encroaching upon the personal time of teachers and lecturers. This process has exhibited a notable disparity between subjects, with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines being somewhat easier to grade due to their reliance on definitive, right or wrong answers. In contrast, humanities and social sciences have posed greater challenges, owing to their emphasis on narrative and textual analysis.
The Traditional Landscape and Its Challenges
Traditionally, assessments in social sciences and humanities have been characterised by a set of accepted, albeit imperfect, norms.
- Grading is typically a time-consuming task performed outside of official working hours.
- Subjectivity in grading, leading to variability in marks awarded by different educators.
- Inconsistencies and potential unconscious bias in marking.
- Difficulty in obtaining objective, data-driven insights from student submissions, hindering thematic analysis across assignments.
The AI Revolution in Educational Assessment
Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence, and in particular, in Large Language Models (LLMs), have opened new avenues for assessing student work in more nuanced disciplines. As a leading innovator in this space, Sendient, has developed a platform that offers a comprehensive solution for assignment and exam assessment using AI. This platform is capable of:
- Integrating exemplars, marking guides, and syllabuses.
- Creating and conducting assessments based on these integrated resources.
- Providing objective, unbiased, and consistent results, complete with detailed explanations for the grades awarded.
- Generating in-depth analytics to identify patterns and themes in student submissions.
Focusing on Privacy whilst leveraging Generative AI
The surge in interest around generative AI, exemplified by platforms like ChatGPT, has highlighted both the potential and the pitfalls of using AI for educational assessments. Common concerns include issues of privacy, inconsistencies in responses, and the propensity for AI to produce erroneous or "hallucinated" information.
Sendient's platform addresses these challenges by harnessing the benefits of LLMs while prioritising student privacy and data protection, tailored specifically for the needs of educators.
Looking Forward
The integration of AI into educational assessment signifies a transformative shift, promising efficiency, fairness, and deeper insights into student learning. To learn more about how Sendient is redefining assessment in education and to explore its services, educators are encouraged to reach out through the provided contact form for personalised assistance from an account manager.
This evolution in educational assessment marks not just a technological advancement, but a step towards a more equitable and insightful educational system.
LET'S GET THINGS MOVING
Contact us to see how we can help you and your business.