New BETT E-Assessment Award Announced for All Age Ranges

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have announced the launch of a new E-Assessment Award open to all ages from 2006. This award will cover all areas and includes the learning and skills market as well as the schools and colleges. This new award joins the widely accepted and lauded BETT awards which are generally recognised and respected within the industry.

This aard is in recognition of the vital part that e-assessment plays in the contemporary FE environment, providing the flexibility and convenience of delivery that is demanded along with the speed and reliability of marking processes and the delivery of feedback that are so beneficial to learners. This developing area has the potential to offer a wider access to education materials, opportunities and facilities and provides larger ambitions for both learners and educators than traditional “book and pen” learning methods.

The Head of Strategy for the QCA, Martin Ripley, said: “QCA is championing the introduction of e-assessment and e-learning, and we are pleased to have had the opportunity of working with Becta, BESA and Emap in developing a new BETT award for introduction in 2006. The QCA supported BETT e-assessment award will not only recognise excellence in the software market, but also act as stimulation for the market to produce products that meet our guidance criteria for excellence.”

Jethro Marsh