Can we use technology to improve aspects of education besides pedagogy?
FN: Yes. For instance, we have not talked about assessment. One thing that technology allows us to do very well is to conduct more sophisticated but less expensive assessment. This is becoming a larger issue, as there is more and more pressure to measure learning?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùnot how many hours of math the student has taken, but whether the student can successfully apply mathematical knowledge to real problems. The movement toward measuring learner outcomes is going to move much faster because of the pressures from state governments. Unlike the case of elementary and secondary education, where states mandated specific standards and assessments, states have so far indicated a preference for colleges and universities to create assessments themselves. These institutions would be wise to accept this responsibility because, if the response is inadequate, the states are likely to move toward mandated assessments. While the academy has often argued that learning assessment at the collegiate level i
