Digital Disruption in Teaching and Testing - Assessment Futures

In this review of Digital Disruption in Teaching and Testing the authors present a measured, research-informed view on how big data in education is reshaping assessment. The book is best for academics, policy makers and senior assessment designers who need a multidisciplinary account of large-scale digital assessment practices; its single biggest reason to buy is the breadth of international, industry- and research-informed perspectives that connect technical change to schooling policy and practice.

Key Features

• Multidisciplinary contributions: Chapters from international scholars and industry experts provide varied lenses on digital assessment and policy implications.
• Focus on big data: Offers detailed discussion of how large-scale data collection and analytics affect testing design and interpretation.
• Assessment-centred analysis: Emphasises ongoing and large-scale assessment practices moving into digital spaces, useful for practitioners planning system changes.
• Practical and theoretical mix: Balances industry-informed case studies with critical social thought to help readers connect theory with practice.
• International scope: Comparative perspectives illuminate how different schooling systems respond to digital assessment pressures and opportunities.

Who It's For

This volume is aimed at university researchers, educational policy makers, assessment authorities and senior practitioners who require a rigorous, evidence-grounded account of digital assessment transformation. The book assumes familiarity with assessment debates and policy language, so it rewards readers seeking depth rather than introductory overviews.

Those looking for a hands-on technical manual for building testing platforms or step-by-step programming guides should look elsewhere; the emphasis is on analysis, policy and critique rather than software engineering details.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides an informed, multidisciplinary perspective that links big data with schooling policy and assessment practice.
• Includes industry voices alongside academic research, offering practical insights into current and emerging systems.
• International case studies allow readers to compare approaches across jurisdictions and spot transferable lessons.

Cons

• Not a technical guide for programmers or software engineers; it is primarily analytical and policy-focused.

Specifications

Title	Digital Disruption in Teaching and Testing
Series	Critical Social Thought
Authors / Editors	Claire Wyatt-Smith, Bob Lingard, Elizabeth Heck
Subject focus	Big data in education and large-scale assessment practices
Approach	Multidisciplinary research and industry-informed analysis
Scope	International perspectives on assessment and schooling transformation

Our Verdict

Digital Disruption in Teaching and Testing is a valuable, well-structured contribution for scholars and policy professionals who need a thoughtful synthesis of assessment and big data debates. It offers good value to those shaping assessment policy or researching systemic change, though readers seeking programming-level guidance should supplement it with technical texts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover technical platform design?
Answer. It discusses industry practices and implications but does not function as a software design manual for building testing platforms.

Who contributed to the book?
Answer. International scholars and industry experts provide the chapters, compiled by Claire Wyatt-Smith, Bob Lingard and Elizabeth Heck.

Is the focus practical or theoretical?
Answer. The book balances theoretical critique with practical, industry-informed case studies, leaning toward analysis and policy implications.