In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with E.W. Looney, CEO and Founder of BrightLink, a technology company and advisory firm specialising in credentialing programme management.
They discuss:
- The Complexity Wall in Credentialing - How programmes hit predictable scaling challenges when manual processes break down under volume and regulatory scrutiny
- AI Teammates in Operations - BrightLink's AI agents Rosie and Scout that work alongside staff to manage applications, eligibility, bursary requests, and candidate communications
- The Future of Technology Interfaces - Model Context Protocol (MCP), the shift from forms to conversational AI, and how natural language interfaces are transforming candidate experiences
E.W. shares BrightLink's 19-year journey from custom software development to becoming a leader in credentialing technology, explaining how they help organisations manage the full lifecycle of candidate records, from applications and eligibility through to assessment results, renewals, and continuing education.
The conversation explores the "complexity wall" that credentialing programmes face when spreadsheets and email heroics can no longer handle increased volume, scope expansion, or regulatory requirements. E.W. explains how programmes often have to choose between hiring more staff or letting standards slip, neither of which is sustainable.
BrightLink's approach centres on using AI as a teammate rather than a replacement. Rosie, their AI agent, handles tasks like evaluating bursary documentation using computer vision, whilst maintaining the critical distinction between probabilistic AI decisions and deterministic system-of-record accuracy. E.W. emphasises the importance of context in building quality AI solutions and how MCP bridges the gap between AI capabilities and official systems.
Looking ahead, E.W. discusses how AI has raised both the ceiling of what's possible and the floor of what's expected, candidates now expect instant responses and real-time updates, whilst regulators demand ISO compliance and data residency.
The conversation touches on emerging natural language interfaces that could allow candidates to book test centres conversationally, and the exciting design challenges of choosing the right interface for each use case.
Connect with E.W. Looney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewlooney/
Learn more about BrightLink: https://thebrightlink.com/
Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/
If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat
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In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Rosie Applin and Dr Simon Child from Cambridge University Press & Assessment about the upcoming Assessment Horizons Conference 2026. They discuss:

• The emotional science of feedback and why understanding learners' emotional responses is critical for effective assessment design — featuring keynote speaker Anastasiya A. Lipnevich
• How "productive failure" can deepen learning and act as a counterbalance to concerns about AI reducing cognitive load — featuring keynote speaker Professor Manu Kapur
• The ongoing tension between AI innovation and maintaining proven learning methods, including surprising research on the enduring value of handwriting for comprehension and retention

The conversation covers all the practical details of this year's conference, taking place on 23–24 April in Cambridge and online, now in its third year. Rosie explains how the programme has been shaped by survey responses from around 160 professionals, with AI and assessment emerging as a dominant theme — from ethical considerations to integrating AI across the assessment lifecycle. Simon shares a preview of his own research presentation comparing parental trust in assessment data between England and Australia, revealing fascinating cultural differences in how parents engage with school reporting. The episode also touches on the value of in-person networking for assessment professionals, the complementary online offer for international attendees, and the wider work of the Assessment Horizons community. Early bird tickets close on 27 February, saving around £50 on the ticket price.

Conference details and tickets: https://www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/events/assessment-horizons-2026/

Find out more about the keynote speakers:Professor Manu Kapur: https://www.manukapur.comAnastasiya A. Lipnevich: https://www.anastasiyalipnevich.com/

Cambridge research — Note taking more effective than AI for learning: https://www.cambridge.org/news-and-insights/note-taking-more-effective-than-ai-for-learning

Connect with Rosie Applin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosieapplin/Connect with Dr Simon Child on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-simon-child-44073656/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts

Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

What does the global assessment community need to be talking about right now — and who needs to be in the room? Dan Koenig, CEO of EQAO, shares his vision for the 51st IAEA Annual Conference in Toronto this September. From public trust and equity to AI and digital transformation, this is a conversation about why your voice matters.Visit: https://testcommunity.network/iaea-2026-why-we-need-your-voice-in-the-room

IAEA Conference Website: https://www.eqao.com/iaea-annual-conference/

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Tim Cammack, a veteran of the exam and education print industry with over 15 years at SCD. They discuss:

• The myths around paper and sustainability – why paper is actually more environmentally friendly than many believe
• How digital and paper coexist in the examination world, and why paper remains essential for integrity and resilience
• The hidden environmental footprint of digital devices versus the transparent recyclability of paper

Tim Cammack explains the work of Two Sides and their Love Paper campaign, which aims to bust common myths about paper's environmental impact. He highlights that European forests are actually growing, and FSC-certified paper comes from sustainable sources. The conversation explores how paper fits into a multimodal approach to examinations, offering resilience that digital systems sometimes lack – particularly when technology fails during critical exam periods. Tim shares examples of awarding bodies returning to paper after experiencing issues with digital delivery, and discusses why physical certificates remain valuable for their commemorative and security qualities. The episode wraps up with a thoughtful comparison of paper's transparent recyclability versus the hidden environmental costs of laptops, devices and rare earth minerals.

Connect with Tim Cammack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timcammack/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts

Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Ed Swift, Head of Philosophy and Religion at Wellington College in Berkshire, with fifteen years of teaching experience and a background as a Director of Teaching and Learning. They discuss:

• Implementing a traffic light system (red, amber, green) for AI use in the classroom to help pupils understand when and how it's appropriate to engage with AI tools
• The challenge of cognitive offloading and ensuring students develop critical thinking skills rather than relying on AI for quick answers
• Practical approaches to monitoring and safeguarding AI use in schools

Ed shares his school's philosophy towards AI adoption, where rather than banning platforms, they focus on monitoring and educating pupils on appropriate use. He explains their innovative traffic light system: red tasks prohibit AI entirely (tests, exams), amber tasks allow guided AI use with full prompt submissions alongside work, and green tasks permit broader AI engagement with transparency requirements.

The conversation explores practical classroom applications, including Ed's use of NotebookLM to create closed-source language models containing set texts for A-Level and IB students to dialogue with. He discusses the balance between leveraging AI tools like Copilot Researcher for synthesising research materials whilst ensuring pupils still engage deeply with primary sources.

Ed reflects on the recently updated DfE Generative AI: product safety standards, which now includes additional guidance around:

• Cognitive development – introducing a 'schools mode' concept to prevent AI from simply providing quick answers and encouraging deeper learning
• Emotional and social development – requiring tools to avoid anthropomorphising AI, drop conversational modes that imply agency, and include time-limits on use
• Mental health – mandating tools detect signs of learner distress, signpost to human support, and involve child mental health expertise in product design
• Manipulation – preventing tools from deceiving users, displaying unjustified confidence, using peer-pressure tactics, or steering users towards paid options

Ed connects these guidelines to the reversal of the Flynn effect – the observation that human intelligence, which had been rising throughout the twentieth century, has begun to decline since the rise of devices and AI. He emphasises that educators must teach students when to harness AI as a tool and when to think slowly and critically without it. The episode also touches on safeguarding challenges, the importance of school-managed devices for visibility, and the widening resource gap between independent and maintained schools in AI adoption.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

DfE Guidance: Generative AI: product safety standards – These standards outline the capabilities and features that generative AI products and systems should meet to be considered safe for users in educational settings. They are mainly intended for edtech developers and suppliers to schools and colleges. Schools and colleges may also find these standards helpful in assessing which AI products are safe for use in education.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-ai-product-safety-expectations

Connect with Ed Swift on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmhswift/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts

Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Dean Blewitt, Senior Innovation and Investments Manager at NCFE. They discuss:
- The findings from the Metaverse Learning feasibility project, exploring personalised VR simulations with adaptive questioning and AI chatbot integration
- How the maturity of AI in education has evolved, including the growing due diligence requirements from providers and colleges
- Two exciting new Assessment Innovation Fund pilots launching in 2026: Body Swaps (soft skills VR training for construction and motor vehicle) and 60 Second Learning (psychometric soft skills assessment)
Dean provides a comprehensive update on NCFE's Assessment Innovation Fund, which has now run seven funding windows with thirteen projects, over a thousand applications, and engagement with more than three thousand learners. He shares insights from the recently completed Metaverse Learning project, which tested VR scenarios with accessibility features like voice recognition and subtitles, alongside an embedded AI chatbot to support in-the-moment learning. Dean discusses the technical and ethical challenges encountered, particularly around implementing guardrails for AI use in educational settings.
Looking ahead, Dean introduces two new pilots set to launch in early 2026. Body Swaps will work with 500 learners across five colleges, focusing on soft skills development in construction and motor vehicle sectors. Meanwhile, 60 Second Learning will engage 1,000 learners across ten colleges and ITPs, using psychometric assessments to measure soft skills development. Dean highlights opportunities for training providers, colleges, and subject matter experts to get involved in these pilots, and discusses additional grant funding available through NCFE's partner, UFI.
Connect with Dean Blewitt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-blewitt/
Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/
More about the innovation fund: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/help-shape-the-future-of-learning-and-assessment
Active Grant from the Ufi: https://testcommunity.network/content/voctech-activate-grant-fund
Metaverse Learning: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/help-shape-the-future-of-learning-and-assessment/aif-pilots/metaverse-learning/
Body Swaps: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/help-shape-the-future-of-learning-and-assessment/aif-pilots/bodyswaps/
If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat
Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events
Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts
Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace
Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network See less

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Anna Kate Phelan, Head of Product at Eintech, and Richard London, Senior User Experience at Prometric. Both are experts in user experience design within the assessment industry, and they share insights from their popular joint presentation at the European Association of Test Publishers Conference in Dublin. They discuss:

• What UX research is and why the user interface should be "invisible" to allow content and candidates to take centre stage
• The importance of discovery, personas, and validating assumptions when designing assessment platforms
• How universal design principles and accessibility features benefit all users, not just those with specific needs

Anna and Richard explore how user experience fits into an assessment company's mission, emphasising that candidates should always come first. They discuss practical approaches including using personas (archetypal users) to guide design decisions, leveraging both quantitative analytics and qualitative research, and the critical importance of providing context to development teams. Anna shares a memorable analogy about giving developers a picture of a car without explaining it needs an engine – highlighting why discovery and context matter. Richard emphasises reducing candidate anxiety and cognitive load to help test-takers flow through assessments with ease. The conversation also touches on accessibility, with Anna noting how features like closed captions, originally designed for deaf users, now benefit millions of everyday viewers.

Elsewhere in the episode, Tim covers the latest industry news including Ofqual's principles on AI in marking and ATP's new human oversight of AI in assessment document. He also invites listeners to contribute to Edition 2 of the AI Adoption Playbook for Awarding Organisations.

Connect with Anna Kate Phelan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annakatephelan/

Connect with Richard London on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-london-b12b563/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

This week's news: https://testcommunity.network/collections/15th-january-2026

Share your AI experience for Edition 2 of the AI Adoption Playbook: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tburnett_test-community-network-assessment-industry-activity-7417223982359228417-zQcr?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAACzbLUBiBi_Dw-B29-jmWrd8QKkhPZkia4

Download the AI Adoption Playbook for Awarding Organisations: https://testcommunity.network/download/KX4GMA

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts

Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Joe James, Co-founder of Cannon James, a specialist recruitment firm working with awarding organisations, membership bodies, and organisations with education or examination functions. They discuss:

• Hiring trends and outlook for the awarding sector in 2026
• What candidates are looking for in roles beyond just salary
• How to refresh your CV and LinkedIn profile to stand out

With the new year often sparking thoughts of career changes, Joe shares his insights on what's driving both hiring decisions and candidate expectations. He notes a cautious optimism for 2026, with organisations increasingly seeking candidates who bring not just skills, but intention and a desire to help grow the business. Candidates, meanwhile, are being more considered in their moves—weighing up culture fit, hybrid working arrangements, and whether an organisation is investing positively in its future.

Joe offers practical advice for anyone contemplating a change: refresh your CV to focus on achievements and impact rather than just listing duties, keep your LinkedIn profile current as a credible shop window, and don't underestimate the value of in-person networking at industry events. His key message? Even if you're not actively job hunting, it's worth reviewing where you are—because the right opportunity might land in your lap when you least expect it.

Connect with Joe James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephjames1/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts

Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

I'll help you generate the show notes for this episode. Let me first read the transcript to understand the discussion points.Based on the transcript, here are the show notes for this episode:

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Zeynep Urkun, a language assessment specialist with over 30 years of experience in English language testing and evaluation, based in Istanbul. They discuss:

• The impact of AI on language assessment and the challenges of keeping assessment methods current with workplace requirements
• The importance of selecting authentic assessment tasks that reflect real-world language use and mediation skills
• Technology adoption in Turkey and considerations around digital equity and access in education

Zeynep shares insights from the Assessment Now conference in London, where professionals across various fields grappled with similar concerns about AI integration. She discusses the mismatch between traditional assessment methods and modern workplace requirements, particularly for students at English-medium universities in Turkey who need B2-level proficiency. The conversation explores promising developments in AI-assisted assessment, including chatbots for spoken language evaluation and AI scoring comparisons with human raters.

Zeynep emphasises the need for more holistic, skills-blended approaches to language assessment, moving away from siloed testing of reading, writing, speaking, and listening towards integrated tasks that mirror real-world communication. She highlights how Turkey is embracing innovation in educational technology, with institutions conducting various AI-related projects, whilst acknowledging ongoing challenges around internet connectivity and the global digital divide. The discussion also touches on lingering effects of the pandemic on education and the rapid pace of technological change in the assessment field.

Connect with Zeynep Urkun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeynep-urkun-36056015/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

Podcasts: https://www.testcommunity.network/podcasts

Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network

In this week's episode, Tim Burnett chats with Sergio Araneda, Karl Hartley, Miia Nummela-Price, and Neil Wilkinson as they launch a groundbreaking Research Sprint exploring the impacts of using AI to author assessment items. Sergio is a Research Scientist at Caveon specialising in test security with a PhD in psychometrics. Karl is Director of AI Learning Strategy at Epic Learning in New Zealand, having just completed the country's largest research into generative assessments. Miia is a Fractional General Counsel and legal consultant advising on the intersection of technology, education and law. Neil is Director of Product and Innovation at Certiverse, bringing extensive experience from creating high-stakes assessments at Pearson. They discuss:

• Legal implications and copyright challenges: ownership of AI-generated items, liability considerations when items prove flawed, and the evolving regulatory landscape
• Quality assurance and the human element: how AI is transforming item authoring workflows, the critical ongoing role of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and why treating SMEs well remains essential despite automation
• Test security vulnerabilities: pre-exposure risks specific to AI-authored items, benchmarks and rational expectations for LLM capabilities, and the importance of testing non-deterministic AI outputs multiple times

The panel explores the practical realities organisations face today as AI tools are already being deployed in classrooms and examination halls worldwide. Karl shares insights from his 114-page research report on generative assessments, whilst Sergio emphasises the importance of understanding LLM training and benchmarks to set realistic expectations. Miia highlights that legal frameworks are still developing and these conversations will continue for the foreseeable future as case law evolves. Neil stresses the value of breaking down AI tasks into smaller, focused prompts rather than creating massive verbose instructions, and advocates for using AI in review roles alongside human authoring. The discussion emphasises that this isn't about replacing humans but augmenting their capabilities, with the human remaining firmly in the loop for validation, construct validity and cultural fairness considerations. Tim introduces the Research Sprint platform where the assessment community can continue the conversation asynchronously, share insights and collaboratively develop practical guidance on AI authoring impacts.

Connect with Sergio Araneda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-araneda-13994a16/

Connect with Karl Hartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlhartley/

Connect with Miia Nummela-Price on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miianummela-price/

Connect with Neil Wilkinson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-a-wilkinson/

Connect with Tim Burnett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tburnett/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Join the Research Sprint: https://research.testcommunity.network/

Karl's Research on AI-Generated Assessments: https://concove.ac.nz/discovery-hub/ai-generated-assessments-for-vocational-education-and-training/

AI Adoption Playbook: https://testcommunity.network/landing/aiplaybook

Special thanks:

Stuart Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sgamartin/

Episode Sponsor - Vretta: https://www.vretta.com/

Connect with the Test Community Network:

If you would like to join Tim on a future episode or sponsor the Test Community Network then get in touch with Tim to schedule a call: https://calendly.com/educationtech/15min-teams-chat

Events: https://www.testcommunity.network/upcoming-events

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Marketplace: https://www.testcommunity.network/marketplace

Subscribe to the Test Community Network here: https://www.testcommunity.network