Reflections of ALT Conference 2025, from a Digital Assessment Perspective
In the run up to ALTC25 Revisited, we wanted to share some of our reflections on The ALT Annual Conference 2025. The conference marked significant strides on enhancing student and staff experiences through innovative platforms and practices. The series of presentations at the conference offered insights into current trends and future directions, for example, involving students as education partners, adoption of AI in learning design, and the integration of digital assessment tools within higher education. Here are some highlights from the conference proceedings (full list of abstracts link here) that are relevant to digital assessment in diverse educational settings:
- Using GenAI to Create Formative Quizzes.
Julian Hopkins and Carol Walker presented an interesting model using Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT to develop interactive quizzes that are directly derived from lecture materials. This method not only streamlines the assessment process but also ensures that quizzes are highly relevant and supportive of the lecture’s learning objectives. - Rethinking ePortfolios: Developing Lifelong Digital Capabilities.
The session by Ruth Clark and Al Ross from Leeds Conservatoire demonstrated an innovative overhaul of ePortfolio systems to better support creative and lifelong learning through digital means. Through a custom-built WordPress plugin with Moodle, they managed to ensure continuity with existing assessment workflows. This case study demonstrates how rethinking a core digital tool can close persistent gaps in digital literacy, foster inclusive assessment practices, and build a reliable foundation that supports both academic and professional growth. Meanwhile, the Conservatoire is not only modernising its assessment systems but also empowering students with lifelong digital capabilities. - Antidote to Madness: An Assessment Design Framework for the Age of AI.
Andrew Larner, Carmen Dorobat, Jack Sutherst, and Sarah Underwood led this presentation to address the complexities introduced by AI in assessment design. It proposed a robust framework that institutions can use to align AI integration with assessment practices, ensuring clarity, fairness, and consistency in evaluating student outcomes in the Age of AI.
During this conference, the SIG Digital Assessment Group had a stand for the first time with the group chairs Gemma Westwood and Helen Greetham attending. Meanwhile, they took up DJ duties for a couple of slots on ALT Radio, speaking about the Digital Assessment Special Interest Group’s activities in the first year. After the conference, they shared their reflections on their Linkedin page.
Gemma especially liked that “the second day Keynote from Gabi Witthaus whose reflections and research on supporting those in marginalised communities access online learning provided a wonderful human contrast to some of the other discussions happening at the conference.” She also highlighted the Prompt-a-thon from Peter Boorman and Javier M?rmol Queralt? (PhD) on a gamification intervention in learning. She said “their workshop shared their support for students in terms of understanding how LLMs gather their data. Notice in the images also the AI generated Avatar that they had us all create as a part of the session, leading to fun discussions about how accurate the AI was in depicting our prompts.” – Read on here.
Like Gemma, Helen also enjoyed Gabi’s keynote and thought Peter and Javier’s workshop on AI was great. She highlighted Kate Molloy’s session on critical and creative methodologies that had her “itching to run a zine-making workshop and then create a digital corpus of all the creations!” – We look forward to the production! – Read on here.
For further reflections from conference guests, visit https://altc.alt.ac.uk/blog/
Join ALT online for ALTC25 Revisited on 25 February 2026. We’d love to see you there.