Computer scoring of NAPLAN writing? I don't think so

Computer scoring of the writing component of NAPLAN is the next 'news' from ACARA. Experts from ACARA are spruiking this as the next 'advance' and keep promising to publish their supporting research. AATE has been calling for this research for most of this year. Most teachers are fairly skeptical about how this could work. This article, written by Doug McCurry is a fascinating analysis of much of the research around computer scoring, mostly focused on work in the US. It identifies the advantages (including on-line computer scoring of regular student writing, more regularly than teachers could feed back) and the draw-backs - they are fearful and worrying for those of us who prepare students for NAPLAN.

It is 22 pages and it is very worth your reading, in full or in part. Moving to computer scoring of writing will be reductionist and, I strongly fear, will change our students' writing, for the worse. Be informed and start talking about this with your colleagues.