Reimagining assessment

Interactive oral assessments as authentic, integrity-rich alternatives to traditional evaluation methods

Abstract

Higher education faces unprecedented assessment challenges from emerging technologies and academic misconduct. Interactive oral assessments (IOAs) provide a viable solution as real-time, dialogic assessments where students demonstrate understanding, critical thinking, and communication skills through two-way spoken interaction. This assessment type strengthens academic integrity while improving student engagement and learning outcomes.

This panel showcases IOA implementation across diverse contexts—biological and health sciences, clinical training, business education, and creative arts—spanning all undergraduate years with varied formats. Our collective experience covers cohorts from 20 to 600+ students, delivered in-person and online.

The panel addresses practical implementation challenges: scheduling, staffing, technological requirements, consistency, accessibility, student preparedness, and anxiety management. Attendees will participate in hands-on IOA activities, share experiences, and gain concrete implementation strategies while building connections with fellow educators exploring assessment innovation.