The Art and Science of Assessment Translation | Interview | Steve Dept | Tim Burnett
On 16th Jan 2025, our founder Steve Dept had a chat with Tim Burnett, founder of the Test Community Network, who is also a speaker, podcaster, teacher (non-exhaustive recognition list) with a mission to build thriving communities within the educational technology sector. Tim is an experienced and active member of the global educational technology community and is enthusiastic about the evolution of learning & assessment. He has grown a personal network stretching from North America, Europe and Asia to Australia and New Zealand. They discuss:
- The evolution of AI in translation
- The challenges of maintaining psychometric properties across translations
- The importance of combining AI tools with human expertise in assessment localization
Steve shares fascinating insights into the complexities of assessment translation, including how the PISA program expanded from 32 to 57 languages across more than 100 countries. He explains why seemingly perfect translations can still pose problems for test validity, using examples like how translating “How many sides does a hexagon have?” can inadvertently give away the answer in some languages.
The conversation also covers cApStAn’s current work in AI quality estimation (AIQE) and workflow consultancy, helping organisations understand where and how to effectively implement translation technology while maintaining assessment integrity. Steve emphasises the continued importance of human expertise and post-launch data analysis in ensuring translated assessments perform as intended.
Click hear to listen to the full-recording: https://www.linkedin.com/events/16thjan-theartandscienceofasses7283415345170710528/about/