Surpass Conference 2020 – 1 week to go!

Get a preview of what to expect from our virtual event

The 2020 virtual Surpass Conference will soon be upon us and as the clock ticks towards its start on 7^th October, more details on the fascinating presentations we’ve got in store are emerging. So, while you stare excitedly at the calendar, waiting for it all to kick off, here are all the reasons to come to Surpass Conference this year.

David Price OBE is kicking off the week on Wednesday 7^th October with his keynote entitled The Power of Us: How we Connect, Act and Innovate Together. A good deal of change has been thrust upon the industry over the last 6 months and with it has come a lot of positive momentum. Listen to the global thought leader, learning futurist and author, as he discusses how we maintain this momentum and the lasting change that will be achieved with the correct approach to the future.

Joining David as the conference’s keynotes are Harry Patrinos and Liberty Munson. Harry Patrinos (Practice Manager at World Bank Education) will be opening day 2 of the conference with what is sure to be an enlightening talk as the expert economist shares his insights on the true impact of school closures as a result of COVID-19.

Liberty Munson Ph.D. will round out the keynotes on the final day with the topic of How Technology is Shaping the Future of Assessment: Imagine the Possibilities. The Senior Psychometrician at Microsoft Worldwide Learning shares her passion for rethinking certification as whole and discusses how we can move forward to a world where the norm of assessment is transformed to fulfill its potential. And, of course, all three keynote speeches will be followed by a live Q&A, in which you will get the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have about the topic at hand.

But the keynotes aren’t all Surpass Conference has to offer, with the User Group Sessions on day 2, the Surpass Community will get an opportunity to join discussions and give feedback on some new ideas for Surpass. Delegates will have a choice of five User Group workshops on specialised topics, and with plenty to choose from, round 2 will provide a chance to catch one you missed in round 1. The topics include:

• Ideation: Future of Test Creation – a frenzy of ideas for test construction to look into what the future holds for Test Creation in Surpass.
• Rethinking Item Authoring: it could be working harder for you! – New concepts for item authoring are never far away and this session gives you the opportunity to give feedback on what is around the corner.
• HTML delivery on any device – if you’re considering delivering HTML tests on smartphones and smaller tablets, this session will instructive and informative for all.
• Take a look at our new feature: Standard Setting! – The hottest new Surpass feature gets the spotlight in this exciting session.

This year’s Surpass Conference is fresh in more ways than one but Community Stories are a key tenet of it that shows that the heart of the conference still lies with the community. SQA, AlphaPlus, Drexel University, Dainis and Company, and Wine and Spirit Education Trust feature this year to give you a first-hand insight into the processes and successes of embarking on a journey with Surpass. Five individual stories will give you an insight into the experiences users have had this year with Surpass, from the mists of Scotland to stateside in Philadelphia, ensuring these stories are worth hearing and have something for everyone. The Surpass Community represented through lived experiences with the system, these sessions are also all followed by Q&As to follow-up and learn more about the other users’ journey to Surpass success.

Many more sessions will be worth coming to, as well as virtual networking, for all the best bits of a digital assessment conference, from the comfort of your own home. Keep an eye on the website from now until the 7^th October, for more events that you won’t want to miss as the Surpass Community virtually comes together again.