Online learning is proving a healthy alternative to the in-classroom environment, either for those opting for home-schooling- or for learners locked out by COVID school closures.
The Provincial government is moving to standardize testing for online learners, and it is proposing to use the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) to oversee its development.
The EQAO currently creates and administers assessments in mathematics and literacy, and will procure a firm to develop an online, adaptive testing platform.
By moving to digital testing, an efficient and accountable large-scale student assessment system will prepare the learners of the future.
For the 2020-21 school year, EQAO will be field-testing an online and adaptive assessments for Grade 9 math.
The online, adaptive testing platform will also respond to past criticisms, ensuring testing accessibility for students with special education needs, increased equity for different student populations, and provide faster results.
As of August 31, 2020, broadband modernization had been completed at 2,475 schools, including 842 rural schools and 475 northern schools.
Work is currently in progress at 2,462 schools, including 251 rural schools and 26 northern schools.
