Building Trust in Digital Assessment: a perspective for teachers and school leaders

By Dr. Claudia Rademaker, Co-founder, Dugga Digital Assessment

After years of working alongside educators navigating the transition to digital assessment, I can say with conviction: trust is the anchor. It is the difference between an assessment that inspires growth and one that creates stress for both students and teachers. As digital platforms become everyday tools in our schools and universities, I find that trust is not simply a technical concern. It is a deeply human one.

This is not just my view. It is echoed across the international education landscape. The OECD (2023) and UNESCO (2024), among others, emphasize that effective digital assessment depends as much on transparent processes and relationships as it does on robust technology.

The Trust Imperative: why this hits home

Many teachers I speak with share similar anxieties about “going digital” with assessment:

• Will it really be fair?
• Can student data be kept truly private?
• What if the platform fails at a critical moment?

I believe these are not just technical questions but human ones. When these concerns are honestly addressed, we give everyone permission to engage, ask questions, and ultimately trust the process. Research backs this up. For example, UNESCO’s 2024 report highlights that open dialogue and visible safeguards around fairness, bias, and privacy form the foundation for inclusive, trusted assessment environments.

Practical strategies that make a difference

Below are approaches that I have seen work in classrooms, schools, and from my own experience. Most of all, it is reinforced by recent studies:

1. Be transparent with purpose and process
When we take time to explain the why and how of each digital assessment clarifying formats, criteria, and intentions, I see anxiety fall and engagement rise. Sharing rubrics ahead of time is a simple step that research (OECD, 2023) finds builds student confidence.

2. Prioritize data security and privacy
Trust is quickly lost if privacy is overlooked. Choosing platforms that adhere to GDPR, and similar standards is essential, but it is just as important to be upfront about how student data is used. I encourage schools to make this part of every conversation with students and the broader school community; a practice mirrored in the European Union’s (2023) privacy guidelines.

3. Encourage student participation and voice
Inviting students to reflect on their digital assessment experiences not only empowers them, but it also helps educators refine their approach. In my experience, even a short feedback form after an online test yields insights, as research from the Global Digital Education Policy Study (2024) also confirms.

4. Embrace formative, not just summative, assessment
Digital platforms enable more frequent, low-stakes check-ins so that students can view assessment as ongoing growth, not a one-shot verdict. Celebrating progress, rather than only final outcomes, has been shown to boost both motivation and honesty in student responses. As such, "A Dugga a day, keeps the bad grades away", is a popular expression among our users!

5. Address technical concerns proactively
Practice runs and strong support matter. I have seen the difference when IT support is visible and when students can try the platform before stakes are high. It is a simple way to build reliability and a frequent recommendation in the latest policy research.

6. Monitor for fairness and consistency
Automated features and anonymized grading must support, not replace, educator oversight. When teachers review results transparently and look for bias or technical issues, trust grows.

My takeaway checklist: building trust in digital assessment

• Communicate openly about the purpose and process of every assessment
• Use privacy-secure platforms and share/inform data practices
• Gather and act on feedback from students and the broader school community
• Blend regular, formative feedback with summative grades
• Provide practice runs and visible IT support
• Routinely check for fairness and consistency in results

When we embed openness, security, and a spirit of continuous improvement into our assessment culture, trust follows. It is a shared journey which I am passionate about. In my experience, a strong culture of trust not only supports assessment, but also empowers students to step forward and become lifelong learners.

How do you build trust in digital assessment in your classroom or school? I would love to learn from your successes and challenges. Let’s keep growing together.