Breaking the Mold: Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI with Tim Burnett and Matt Wingfield
In this special episode of Tried and Tested, recorded live in London during the E-Assessment Association Conference, host Isabelle Gonthier sits down with two trailblazers in the UK assessment space: Matt Wingfield, Managing Director of EdTech Horizons, and Tim Burnett, Founder of Education Tech Consulting and the Test Community Network.
Together, they explore the evolving role of AI in assessment, from its cautious early adoption to its growing potential as a driver of innovation. They discuss how regulators are influencing the pace of change, sometimes enabling progress and other times holding it back. The conversation also highlights the urgent need to reimagine assessment design for a tech-integrated world, the opportunities digital tools present for promoting equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and the growing shift from traditional credentials to more flexible micro-credentials and proof-of-skill models.
From the power of formative testing in Welsh schools to global conversations about AI literacy and environmental impacts, this episode explores the challenges and promises of assessment transformation. Whether you’re navigating regulation, innovation, or inclusion, this is a must-listen for anyone invested in the future of testing.
Tim Burnett
Marketing & Community Consultant, Education Tech Consulting & Founder of the Test Community Network
Tim is an experienced and active member of the global educational technology community with over 20 years of experience in advancing technology in assessment and education.
As former Chair of the e-Assessment Association and Founder of the Test Community Network, Tim has built a reputation as a solutions-focused innovator who is committed to fair, reliable, and valuable assessment experiences. As a frequent speaker on AI in assessment, Tim co-hosts podcasts and provides articles exploring assessment and technology innovations.
Matt Wingfield
Managing Director, Edtech Horizons Ltd
With 35+ years’ experience within the education market as a teacher, working for AOs, professional bodies and technology suppliers, Matt has built-up significant understanding of the issues relating to the use of e-assessment within all phases of education.
He is a founding member, director and former chair of the eAssessment Association and sits on JISC’s Higher Education Edtech Advisory Board and their Assessment Working Group.
Matt also works as an independent consultant supporting awarding organizations and professional bodies with systems procurement and assessment technology suppliers in maximizing the positive impact of technology on formative and summative assessment delivery.