Call For Proposals: IACAT 2019
Improving Assessment with Adaptivity & AI
Deadline: March 1, 2019
The International Association for Computerized Adaptive Testing (IACAT, www.iacat.org) invites you to submit a proposal for the 2019 Conference to be held 10-13 June in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Conference Theme
The conference theme centers on the application of adaptivity, artificial intelligence (AI), and other algorithms to improve assessment development, delivery, and implementation. Why? AI is the use of computers to do things that normally require a human. Before the advent of computers, this included the delivery of an adaptive test, and therefore computerized adaptive testing (CAT) was one of the first implementations of AI. Automated test assembly, automated essay scoring, online item calibration are other examples of algorithms to improve assessment. But AI is also useful in the implementation of assessments and the interpretation of assessment data. Learn more at the conference website.
Session Types
There are two types of sessions: Individual Presentations and Coordinated/Symposia Presentations.
Individual Presentations
These sessions can be a single presenter or group of presenters, discussing the results of a research study or actual assessment. This is a traditional lecture-style presentation that will be 20-30 minutes as part of a block of presentations.
Coordinated/Symposia Presentations
These sessions are a group of 3-4 related presentations, submitted together as a block, or alternatively can be a symposium with multiple speakers on one topic. These will be approximately 60 minutes in length. We encourage formats such as panel discussions or debates.
Submission Guidelines
To submit a proposal, go to this submission page and follow the prompts. Proposals should be limited to 500 words for Individual Presentations and 1000 words for Coordinated/Symposia Presentations (include all speakers in one submission).
Submissions will be evaluated on: quality of the work/research, alignment with the theme of the conference, innovation or contribution to the literature, and clarity. Proposals will be evaluated on a continuous basis, so early submission is encouraged. All presentations are planned be videorecorded and will later be made available on the IACAT conference website. For examples of the most recent conference, presentation videos are available on the IACAT Website.
Recommended Topics
Applications of CAT: Education and Language
Applications of CAT: Certification and Workforce
Item generation, item banking, and form assembly
Item selection and termination criteria
IRT models (including multidimensional)
Cognitive diagnostic models
Multistage testing (MST)
Other AI topics (e.g., automated essay scoring)
Adaptive learning
Early Career Award
The IACAT Early Career Researcher Award is a prestigious award intended for young scholars with an interest in computerized adaptive testing (CAT) and who have obtained at least a Master’s degree or are in an advanced stage toward completing it. The main aim of the award is to encourage research in CAT. The recipient will receive a medal from the sponsor, EPEC Pty Ltd, (www.epecat.com) as well as a grant of US$1,000 from IACAT.
To nominate a candidate, submit the following to Prof John Barnard (John@EPECat.com) before 31 May 2019.
-An abstract of up to 500 words on a topic in the field of CAT intended to be submitted for the invited address at the conference.
-A recommendation letter from the nominator and a detailed curriculum vitae of the nominee with special reference to CAT.
Information on the Conference
This year's conference is hosted by Assessment Systems Corporation and will be located at the newly renovated Graduate Hotel on the University of Minnesota campus. The campus is near downtown Minneapolis and easily accessible from the airport via Light Rail (station right in front of the hotel), taxi, or ride-sharing service.Much of the seminal research on adaptive testing occurred at the University of Minnesota in the 1970s, driven by David J. Weiss at the Psychometric Methods program in the Department of Psychology. Weiss hosted the first CAT conferences here in Minnesota, in 1977, 1979, and 1982. The Graduate Hotel was also the location of the two GMAC CAT Conferences (2007 and 2009) which renewed interest in the topic and led to the official founding of IACAT as a tax-exempt nonprofit association dedicated to the improvement of assessment. More information is at http://iacat.org/2019-iacat-conference-minneapolis-usa.