17/05/2024
AI offers fantastic enhancements for English language assessment, but we must keep the human in the ‘driving seat’ and follow ethical standards at all times, according to an expert from Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Dr Jing Xu, Head of Propositions Research – English
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Dr Jing Xu, Head of Propositions Research at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, made the comments at a recent presentation he gave to the National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA), which is part of the Chinese Ministry of Education. Dr Xu is a leading expert from Cambridge who has written extensively on the use of AI in language assessment.
The event was attended by representatives from NEEA, assessment researchers and academics from leading higher education institutions in Beijing. Dr Xu also hosted roundtable discussions with NEEA’s Foreign Language Assessment unit on the best ways to apply cutting-edge AI technology to language assessment.
“AI is shaking up English language assessment but it’s essential that humans stay in the driving seat. commented Dr Xu. He continued: “Cutting-edge technologies such as large language models can help to create personalised learning experiences, save time for teachers, and give instant feedback to English language learners. However, we have to use AI responsibly and act cautiously to get the best out of this groundbreaking technology.’
Dr Jing Xu and President Qiang Li of NEEA who expressed strong interest in AI-powered educational assessment and encouraged close and long-term collaboration between NEEA and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Dr Xu also spoke about the ethics of using GenAI and the best ways to integrate it into language learning and assessment. He introduced Cambridge’s seven key principles for successfully integrating AI into the English language classroom.
During the event Dr Xu said that one of the biggest challenges for using AI in language assessment is people’s acceptance and limited knowledge of the technology. He also called for more research so AI can be further integrated into language assessment.
Cambridge English and China's National Education Examinations Authority (NEEA) have been working closely together since the early 1990s. The partnership began in 1993 when the Cambridge English Business qualifications were offered in China through NEEA's network. The exams are now taken by hundreds of thousands of students every year in China.