The assessment burdens on teachers are real. The biggest concern, according to survey respondents, is that assessment takes too much time at every step of the process — from creating the assessments, to giving the tests, to scoring the assessments, to using the results to guide future instruction. On top of this, educators seem particularly dissatisfied with the data they get from their assessment tools. Only 42% of respondents strongly agree that assessment data is easy to understand.
Little wonder, then, that the four most valuable AI features identified in the survey save teachers time at each stage of assessment. Educators see AI as a tool well suited to:
- Generating assessment questions
- Scoring open-ended responses
- Reducing the time they spend studying assessment data
- Making instructional suggestions based on the results
The survey findings show that educators want AI to make assessment more accessible and actionable, says Trent Workman, Senior Vice President of Pearson’s School Assessment division. “By providing an easy way to analyze various data points, AI can help educators tailor their instruction to better meet student needs and support school goals.”
The actionable piece is essential, and it speaks to another takeaway from the survey: Educators are concerned about assessment effectiveness, not just efficiency.