Next Generation Assessment Event: September 20th Workshop in Washington, DC to Showcase Capabilities of Automated Scoring

Event by Pearson to Demonstrate how Automated Scoring and Artificial Intelligence can Easily and Efficiently Measure K-16 Student Performance

Bloomington, MN, August 15, 2011 — Today Pearson announced open registration for an event aimed at helping participants better understand and put automated scoring technology and artificial intelligence to work in measuring student achievement. Advance registration is required to participate in the event. Register here.

“Education is currently in an unprecedented era of change, with technology rapidly changing how assessments are developed, delivered and scored, and how the resulting data can be used to improve teaching and learning” said Lynn Streeter, president of Pearson Knowledge Technologies. “As educators navigate such change and the student assessment model evolves from being an annual snapshot to ongoing monitoring and tracking of academic growth to provide immediate feedback and inform instruction, the use of automated scoring technologies becomes increasingly crucial.”

During the event, taking place in Washington, DC from 12:¬3pm, September 20th, Doug Kubach, CEO of Pearson Assessment and Information (A&I) will facilitate a discussion of the potential implications of automated scoring technologies on state and local assessment policies and practices. Karen Lochbaum, vice president of Technology Services at Knowledge Technologies, a Pearson business that has more than 15 years of experience in automated scoring, will discuss automated scoring and artificial intelligence capabilities and explain how they can be used to efficiently score student performance across subject areas.

Dr. Michael Feuer, former National Academies Board of Testing and Assessment (BOTA) Chair and the current Dean of the George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development, will offer initial reactions of the potential impact and implications of automated scoring technologies on assessment policies and

practices.

Following is specific information on the Innovations in Automated Scoring Workshop:

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
12 p.m. — 3 p.m. EST
National Press Club
529 14th Street NW
Murrow Room, 13th Floor
Washington, DC 20045

This event is part of Pearson's ongoing commitment to working with educators on the development of next-generation assessments. Additional resources can be found at a special website, Next Generation Assessments, featuring open, public access to numerous white papers, including the recently released white paper, “Pearson's Automated Scoring of Writing, Speaking, and Mathematics: A White Paper.” Available at http://www.pearsonassessments.com/automated_scoring_paper, the paper gives educators, policymakers, and test developers explanations of how automated scoring works, how well it works, and its potential for educational applications.

About Pearson

Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education services, education technology and school solutions, provides innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, go to http://www.pearsonassessments.com.

For more information:
Adam Gaber, Pearson
800-745-8489 / adam.gaber(at)pearson(dot)com / @apgaber (twitter)