AI, examinations and the role of the examination board

AI and the role of the examination board

Last week I had the pleasure of running a training session for an examination board in vocational education (MBO) on AI and what it means for their day-to-day work.

The role of an examination board does not lie in designing education or supervising learning. Their responsibility lies in safeguarding the quality of examinations, assessing cases and taking carefully reasoned decisions. That is precisely where AI is starting to play a role. Not because AI should take over decision-making, but because it is increasingly part of the context in which decisions are made.

During the training, we therefore focused mainly on practical situations. How do you analyse a file in which AI may have been used? What questions do you ask as a board? How do you make sure decisions are consistent and well founded? The conversation was less about technology and much more about professional judgement.

An interesting part of the session was building a number of AI companions together with Prompt Companion in EduGPT. In a short time, we created tools that can support examination boards in structuring cases, formulating critical questions and strengthening the reasoning behind decisions. Not as a replacement for the board's judgement, but as a sparring partner that helps sharpen the thinking process.

That also shows what AI literacy is about in this context. Not just understanding what AI can do, but above all consciously deciding which role AI may and may not play in decision-making.

Thanks to the participants for the open conversation and the sharp questions. And of course to Joke Lammers (chair) for making this session possible.