JAMB Raises Concerns Over Personalized Items at 2024 IAEA Conference in Philadelphia

At the 2024 IAEA conference in Philadelphia, JAMB raised concerns about the negative impact of personalized items in large-scale exams, highlighting issues such as equity, resource disparities, and data privacy risks, while also discussing the role of AI in educational assessments.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has voiced concerns about the potential long-term negative effects of using personalized items in large-scale exams during the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) conference.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who led a four-person delegation to the conference in Philadelphia, USA, expressed these concerns, emphasizing that personalized items could lead to equity and access issues, resource disparities, biases, data privacy risks, and an excessive focus on individualization.

The 2024 IAEA conference, titled “How Can AI Help Improve Education Assessments,” served as a forum for experts to discuss emerging trends in assessment practices.

In her opening address, IAEA President Ms. Mary Pitoniak remarked that the theme reflects the complexities of the evolving field of educational assessment, particularly regarding AI’s role in measuring students’ knowledge and skills.

Held in Philadelphia by ETS, the 49th IAEA conference explored the potential and impact of AI on assessment systems worldwide, focusing on its ability to transform educational practices and infrastructure.

The conference emphasized the increasing demand for assessments that capture cognitive, social, emotional, and 21st-century skills, in line with AI’s growing influence across industries.

Discussions also covered ethical issues, security, fairness, and the need for assessments that accurately reflect diverse skills and competencies for success in today’s world.

The event featured expert-led sessions on topics like “Validity Issues in the Use of AI in Assessment,” “Practical Uses of AI in Assessment,” and “Will AI Help or Hinder Classroom Formative Assessment?”

The four-day conference, held from September 22 to 25, 2024, attracted global participants, including representatives from Nigeria’s National Examinations Council (NECO), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the Nigerian National Assembly, alongside JAMB’s delegation led by Prof. Oloyede.

The IAEA works to promote communication and collaboration among international agencies involved in educational assessment, aiming to create a cooperative framework for various projects.

Prof. Oloyede was joined in Philadelphia by Doom Iyortyom, Director of Quality Assurance; Funmilola B-Usman, Director of ITS; and Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Public Communications Advisor.

READ ALSO: JAMB Reduces UTME Fees for Visually Impaired and Disabled Candidates

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, INDEPENDENT