Today, we want to contribute further by proposing a series of possible solutions for five forms of inefficiency and the problem of inequity. While the solutions have different political and monetary costs, they are all relatively easy to adopt.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom and, in an ideal world they would all be carried out more or less simultaneously as they are all highly complementary with each other.

Solution: produce a consumer guide on the different types of assessments.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom the current lack of information means that countries must do their own digging to evaluate the options. At a minimum, they need to understand how international assessments can be used to: support the national agenda; report on the sdgs; and help their ministries make management decisions.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Ideally, countries want an assessment to meet all these needs in one go. But finding the right fit can be difficult, which is why they need better guidance.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom for example, a country might be thinking about participating in an international assessment even though it has a national assessment at the same education level.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom to evaluate the options, it needs to compare the overall costs and benefits as well as more technical information to decide on the nitty gritty questions such as items and constructs.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom as with any expensive product, countries need a consumer guide, providing accurate and objective information, to compare options.

Solution: provide more transparent price information.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom in the current market, consumers often have to haggle, like at a roadside vegetable stall, rather than choosing their products at a market with prices clearly posted.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom while the haggling can lead to better prices for some, there tend to be hidden expenses and higher transactions costs, and maybe higher prices for others.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom we are all for negotiations, but they should be based on transparent pricing information. An official body could produce accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date information on the current costs of assessments, while documenting steps or conditions that can help countries negotiate.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Pricing information should at a minimum include: fees paid to the international assessment organization; opportunity costs of the technical knowledge required within national agencies; financial costs of field deployment; opportunity costs of field deployment if existing staff are used.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom today, there is no clarity on how much it costs to develop an assessment item, for example, or to conduct a pilot test. And some of the information is actually contradictory.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom for example, countries are often led to believe that by joining an international assessment they will benefit from economies of scale. Yet why is it that the fees never seem to go down as the pool of participants grows?Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Solution: develop methodologies to link assessments to a global minimum proficiency level. If countries and development agencies know more about how one assessment “translates” into another, they would not feel the same pressure to “buy” every possible test, in addition to their own national assessment.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom countries can better evaluate the options and their relevance to policymaking if they can see the level at which an assessment is linked to a global yardstick.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom if one knows how to translate metres into yards, one does not need two measuring sticks. This information will also help to boost the technical skills of national staff while also supporting development partners that fund assessments as part of their contribution to SDG 4.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

One would expect that with 25 years of intensive experience of preparing cross-national assessments, it would be straightforward to copy this process.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom nobody argues that absolutely all information should be in the public domain, as it is important to ensure assessments are valid and keep certain aspects confidential.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom but the process of producing assessments, and the background knowledge needed, has been sufficiently standardized that the current high costs are not justified.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

One step towards generating capacity in the countries and lowering costs is the use of artificial intelligence applied to a bank of items properly aligned to the different education cycles of countries.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom the platform would embed a bank of questions with known and tested technical properties. The approach would also suggest ways to combine items in a sound manner, as needed for reporting.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom countries would be able to get and contribute items, to build the whole assessment if needed, to run the modeling that produces the results without having to commit themselves to packages where their ownership and voice is reduced.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom A machine learning engine would, in an ambitious scenario, allow adaptive testing at low cost. Similarly, one way forward would be to develop a pool of items from existing assessments, as a free global public good that would empower national authorities to develop their own assessments.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Solution: create more physical marketplaces. Most of us like touching and feeling things we buy. If we are buying a bicycle or car, it is sensible to try it – even if we end up making the final purchase online.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom the learning assessment market should offer the same experience – a place where users, producers, and international organizations can meet and make sales pitches.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom some of this already happens at conferences, with side events organized by producers that try to educate consumers (but few where consumers try to educate producers, itself a cause of market failure).Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom but perhaps there ought to be more physical market spaces to allow not only comparison shopping, but also including exchanges where consumers can learn more about how assessments are produced and why the good ones might not need to be as expensive as one might think.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom

Solution: transfer purchasing power and technical skills to countries. As noted in the previous blog , even the most efficient markets don’t care about whether consumers enjoy a product according to their needs.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom assessment costs are high, relative to other discretionary quality assurance mechanisms, for poorer countries. They may need subsidies either to cover the cost of both participation and technical skills development, or as a behavioural nudge.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom as the price of cross-national assessments becomes standardized and transparent, international agencies should ensure grants are made available to countries with a long-term perspective, to ensure all countries benefit equally according to their need.Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom the design of such a scheme is non-trivial and needs to be thought about carefully so as not to create further inequalities or perverse incentives (e.G., pretend to a lack of interest so as to merit the behavioural nudge).Examples of cognitive learning theory in the classroom