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Programme for Testing and Test-Driven Learning
One of the central issues in higher education today is increasing  the likelihood of students achieving their educational objectives. Another issue is the reduction of  the work pressure on teaching staff.
SURF’s Testing and Test-Driven Learning programme tackles both these matters by enabling institutions for higher education to develop computer based tests and assesments. The programme also supports  the raising  of quality of testing in higher education by generating, combining, and providing know-how about computer based testing within a national expertise network. Central technical infrastructures will be realized to support and maintain successful initiatives for computer based testing and revision material.

Three main areas
The programme activities take place within three pillars, which are inextricably linked to one another.

1. In the first pillar, educational institutions can combine to implement projects aimed at reducing the number of students who drop out and/or cutting the work pressure on teaching staff by introducing computer based testing.
2. In the second pillar, knowledge and expertise regarding the quality of assessing and testing in education are combined and made available within an expertise network. Institutions can carry out practical research to develop guidelines for improving the quality of testing. A programme of professional development for instructors, those who train instructors, and other people involved forms part of the expertise network.
3. In the third pillar, central infrastructures are created – together with the associated development and management organisation – to ensure the continuity of the projects and to generate economies of scale. 

Projects
Educational institutions are invited to submit project proposals for initiatives aimed at using computer based assessing and testing and online revision material to reduce the number of students who drop out and/or to cut the work pressure on teaching staff. A funding total of EUR 2,000,000 is available for 2011 (first pillar projects).

Publications
An article on computer based testing was published in the June 2010 issue of SURF magazine. 

 

The Testing and Test-Driven Learning programme aims to help reduce the number of students who drop out and/or to cut the work pressure on teaching staff, by supporting projects concerning for example: improving student’s transition from secondary education to higher education by enabling institutions to collaborate on developing diagnostic tests and revision material improving students’ progress by means of progress tests reducing the time needed to develop tests by enabling instructors from a number of institutions to collaborate on developing collections of digital tests reducing the time taken to mark tests by introducing digital testing, with results being generated by computer providing expertise and professional development opportunities for instructors in the field of testing, as well as assistance in developing collections of digital tests.

More information
For more information about the Testing and Test-Driven Learning programme, please contact Annette Peet on +31 (0)30 2346608 or Christien Bok on +31 (0)30 234 6600