Qiyas conference stresses on educational assessment

Rodolfo C. Estimo Jr.

RIYADH: The National Center for Measurement (Qiyas) concluded its second international conference on “Measuring Learning Outcomes.”
It was attended by an elite group of local and foreign educators and researchers.
The conference was held under the patronage of Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar and Education Dr. Azzam Al-Dakhil.
“Education goes hand in hand with the rapid interest in assessment and evaluation to assure the quality of education and achieve a highly effective educational system,” one of the organizers said in a statement.
For this reason, he said, the National Center for Measurement “holds this conference as part of its concern for, and attention to, learning outcomes.”
“The aim is to present the scientific aspects of learning assessment among the teachers, faculty members, researchers as well as decision-makers,” they said.
The conference tried to explore international practices and new trends to enrich the scientific fields of learning outcome assessment. Local and foreign speakers discussed current education modules, issues, trends, and international and local experiences in learning outcome assessment.
They also discussed the benefits of learning outcomes assessment in enhancing the quality of general as well as higher education, including its accountabilities and responsibilities.
Dr. Ali Karni chaired the session on the first day. Dr. William Spady talked on “A Transformational View of Outcome-Based Education.”
On the second day, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Dossari chaired the session. Anthony Nitko discussed “Current Trends and Future Directions in the International Assessment of Learning Outcome.”
Dr. Adel Al-Qaeed chaired the session on the third day. George Kuh talked on “Evidence Based Improvement in the US: Current Practice and Lessons Learned.”
The speakers during the three-day conference included William George Brozo, William G. Spady, Natasha Jankowski, Jillian Kinzie, Kurt F. Geizinger, Hamish Coates, Monica Stitt Bergh, Anthony J. Nieto, Susan M. Brookhart, George D. Kuh and Barbara S. Plake.