As part of our ongoing commitment to the future of learning and assessment, BTL regularly hosts and attends seminars and events. Furthermore, our clients often demonstrate how they use our products and services to deliver and enhance their own assessment programmes.
Surpass Conference 2019 →
Video and audio highlights are now available Watch Highlights →
Upcoming
ATP Innovations in Testing →
29th March – 1st April 2020 | San Diego
e-Assessment Question 2020 →
22nd – 23rd April 2020 | London, England
ATP Innovations in Testing 2020
29th March – 1st April 2020 | San Diego, CA, USA
From their website:
As the testing industry continues to evolve, organizations have the opportunity to explore new learning and assessment solutions. Organizations are exploring how innovative technology may be used to advance their assessment solutions, exceed stakeholder expectations, and enhance quality and integrity of their programs. Attend Innovations in Testing 2020 to learn how innovation is driving the testing industry toward a new standard of learning, assessment, continued competence, test delivery, security, test-taker experience, and data analytics.
Event Website: http://www.innovationsintesting.org/
e-Assessment Question 2020
22nd – 23rd April 2020 | London, England
From their website:
The Future of Assessment is already here. And it has technology at its heart. E-Assessment is no longer a fledgling industry but one that is starting to take centre stage. We have all seen organisations and institutions make dramatic changes and transform assessment, and we have seen this reach from preschool / early years right through to professional development in the modern workplace.
The e-Assessment Association has taken over the reins of this established and popular conference and we are looking forward to bringing you new stories, cutting edge innovations and the best case studies worldwide, from which we can all learn.
The question is no longer, ‘e-Assessment?’ but, how can we work together, influence policy, build awareness and harness technology with the maximum impact? Working together, collaborating, discussing, sharing and yes, even questioning our stories, is how we will continue to build a diverse and sustainable industry.
Event Website: https://e-assessment-question.com/
View Past Events →
Past
2019
Beyond Multiple Choice Conference →
5th – 6th November | Washington D.C.
CNG Chicago – Certification Network Group →
13th November 2019 | Chicago, ILL, USA
ICE Exchange 2019 – Institute of Credentialing Excellence →
18th – 21st November 2019 | San Diego, CA, USA
View Past Events →
CNG Chicago February – Certification Network Group →
ATP 2019 (Innovations in Testing Conference) →
17th – 20th March 2019 | Orlando, FLA, USA
Surpass Community Webinar – An Interactive Guide to Selecting the Best Approach for International Test Growth →
26th March 2019 | Online – Sign up for reminders
CNG Washington D.C. – Certification Network Group →
27th March 2019 | Washington D.C., USA
The e-Assessment Question 2019 →
10th – 11th April 2019 | London, England
The International e-Assessment Awards 2019 →
10th April 2019 | London, England
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar April 2019 →
16th April 2019 | Online
Sign up for reminders
CNG Washington D.C. – Certification Network Group →
12th June 2019 | Washington D.C. USA
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar →
18th June 2019 | Online
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Community Webinar with the Product Owner Team→
3rd July 2019 | Online
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Community Webinar Accessibility Update →
20th August 2019 | Online
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Community Webinar – How we improve the User Experience through testing →
4th September 2019 | Online
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
CNG Washington D.C. – Certification Network Group
11th September 2019 | Washington D.C.
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar →
17th September 2019 | Online
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
EATP Conference →
25th – 27th September | Madrid, Spain
FAB Conference and Awards 2019 →
10th – 11th October | Leicester, U.K.
2018
Surpass Webinar: Insights into the BTL Test Centre Network (On Tour) →
ATP 2018 (Innovations in Testing Conference) →
Surpass Pre-Release Webinars →
Surpass Community Webinar: Surpass & GDPR, Community Update →
e-Assessment Question 2018 →
The International e-Assessment Awards 2018 →
Surpass Community Assessment Case Study – TWI →
Surpass Pre-release Webinar →
Accessibility in Assessment< →/a>
Surpass Release Webinar: Discover the latest assessment features →
Breakfast Seminar – Latest Advancements in Item Banking and Assessment →
E-ATP Innovations in Testing →
Surpass Conference 2018 →
Surpass Release Webinar: Discover the latest assessment features →
FAB Conference 2018 (Federation of Awarding Bodies) →
ICE Exchange 2018 (Institute for Credentialing Excellence) →
BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE Conference and Exhibition →
Breakfast Seminar – Latest Advancements in Item Banking and Assessment →
Surpass Community Webinar – Combining media enhanced item types to improve on-screen testing testing (with telc Language Tests) →
2017
Surpass: Special Interest Group – End-Point Assessment →
ATP Conference: Innovations in Testing →
e-Assessment Question 2017 →
The All New e-Assessment Awards 2017 →
AO Forum 2017 →
EPA Webinar: Creating and managing rich and engaging content with Surpass →
e-Vocational 2017 Assessment Tomorrow in Association with FAB →
Surpass Release Webinar – An Introduction to the Simplified Item Authoring Interface →
Surpass Webinar: Exploring the benefits of Scrum development for the Surpass Community →
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar →
E-ATP 2017 →
Surpass Conference 2017 →
FAB 2017: Conference, Awards and Exhibition →
ICE Exchange 2017 →
Linear Optimisation in Surpass: The Assessment Platform – Webinar →
Surpass Webinar: 2017 Conference and Industry Round-up →
Surpass Pre-Release Webinars →
Past – 2019
CNG Chicago – Certification Network Group
13th November 2019 | Chicago, ILL, USA
The Certification Network Group (CNG) host several regular events throughout the year, with each focusing on a different theme. Please visit their website for details on specific events as they are announced.
General information from their website:
“The CNG meetings connect certification professionals with challenges to certification professionals and vendors with solutions. They provide not only best practices, but also new and effective ways to develop and administer certification programs.”
Event Website: https://certificationnetworkgroup.org/events
Beyond Multiple Choice Conference 2019
5th – 6st November 2019 | Washington D.C.
From their website:
Computer-based assessment has grown significantly since the early days of automated test publishing and certification. Yet much of the innovation has focused on computerizing the same techniques that have been in use for over a century.
The key question is:
How can managers and educators move beyond multiple-choice tests to more deeply evaluate the effectiveness of learning, teaching and training?
This conference addresses just those issues, bringing the latest tools and techniques into clear focus and evaluating how they can support learners and teachers in the modern digital age.
Event Website: http://beyond-multiple-choice.com/
ICE Exchange 2019
18th – 21st November 2019 | San Diego, CA, USA
From their website:
The ICE Exchange conference is the conference for the credentialing community. The name ICE Exchange reflects what is valued most by our annual conference attendees: the exchange of industry trends and best practice through live education and networking.
The ICE Exchange touches on the many aspects of the credentialing ecosystem: Business of Certification; Certification Operations; Certification Technology; The Future of Certification; Governance; Marketing and Communication; Security, Records and Data Management; Strategy of Certification; and Test Development and Administration.
Event Website: https://www.credentialingexcellence.org/page/ice-exchange-overview
Surpass Release Webinar – New Feature Preview
22nd January 2019 | Online
Join Holly and Tim as we walk you through some of the latest features available to the Surpass Community in the Surpass Winter 2019 release.
To join our live stream, simply go to https://www.btl.com/surpasslive, enter your name and email and the video should automatically start playing when we’re ready to begin.
You can ask the team a question using the box to the right of the video player.
Event Website: http://www.btl.com/surpasslive
CNG Chicago – Certification Network Group
27th February 2019 | Chicago, ILL, USA
The Certification Network Group (CNG) host several regular events throughout the year, with each focusing on a different theme. Please visit their website for details on specific events as they are announced.
General information from their website:
“The CNG meetings connect certification professionals with challenges to certification professionals and vendors with solutions. They provide not only best practices, but also new and effective ways to develop and administer certification programs.”
Event Website: https://certificationnetworkgroup.org/events
The e-Assessment Question 2019
10th – 11th April 2019 | London, England
From the website:
The 2019 conference and exhibition takes transformation as its theme, looking at both:
- the way that e-Assessment is effecting the learning and assessment processes in education, training and development, and
- the manner in which e-Assessment as a process is changing and growing and advancing.
Find out more here:
Event Website: http://www.e-assessment-question.com/
The International e-Assessment Awards 2019
10th April 2019 | London, England
The entry period for the International eAssessment Awards has now closed, and judges are putting together the shortlist.
We recommend visiting the official website for the latest information on shortlisted projects, and to book your place at what is certain to be a night of celebration for innovation and acheivement within the assessment industry.
Event Website: https://eassessmentawards.com
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar – Be among the first to see new and enhanced features in Surpass
16th April 2019 | Online
Join Ashleigh and Georgina from the Surpass training team as they introduce and demonstrate upcoming features for creating better exams in the most efficient way possible.
In true Surpass Community style, we invite you to ask questions and share your thoughts via the live chat function located next to the video window.
https://www.btl.com/signup
AO Forum
14th May 2019 | London, England
Details regarding the speakers and agenda for AO Forum 2019 are now available on the event website http://www.awardingorganisation.com/
Speakers include:
- Ofqual – An Update From The Regulator
Covering Vocational Qualifications, Accountability for Awards, T Levels, Apprenticeships, Functional Skills & more
Lucy Sydney, Director, Strategic Relationships, Vocational and Technical Qualifications, Ofqual - ESFA – an update from the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Richard Mole, ESFA - Grading and Markscheme-Based Assessments In Vocational Qualifications
Gavin Busuttil-Reynaud, Director, AlphaPlus - In The Life Of An EPAO – 12 Months On …
Charlotte Bosworth, Managing Director, Innovate Awarding - VTQ Research – Getting Technical
Paul Newton, Research Chair, Ofqual - Building International Markets For Your Business
Rob May, CEO, Association of Business Executives
The event will take place at Woburn House Conference Centre, 20 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HQ
CNG Chicago – Certification Network Group
15th May 2019 | Chicago, ILL, USA
The Certification Network Group (CNG) quarterly meetings in Chicago are an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations who are interested in certification to learn, network and share best practice.
The next, specially extended, gathering of the CNG Chicago on May 15th will be no exception. During this session the CNG team and guest speakers will be providing an insight into “The Life-Cycle of Exam Items – From Conception to Retirement”. Following this, event sponsors, BTL Surpass, will invite delegates to have lunch and join a series of group discussions all designed to complement the CNG agenda, including:
The simplification of the interaction between SME and Test Publisher. How can this become a friction-free experience?
Can case study and reference materials enhance the value of assessments?
What data can enhance test item development and review processes?
Join us in May for this specially extended CNG Meeting in Chicago, 9am until 1.30pm.
Register here: https://certificationnetworkgroup.org/event-3359349
CNG Washington D.C. – Certification Network Group
12th June 2019 | Washington D.C. USA
The Certification Network Group (CNG) quarterly meetings in Washington D.C. are an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations who are interested in certification to learn, network and share best practice.
More details about this specific event will be available shortly.
Event Website: https://certificationnetworkgroup.org/events

Surpass Pre-Release Webinar
18th June 2019 | Online
In this pre-release webinar, join Jack Hobson and Nathan Driver from the Surpass training team as they introduce and demonstrate upcoming features for creating better exams in the most efficient way possible.
In true Surpass Community style, we invite you to ask questions and share your thoughts via the live chat function located next to the video window.
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Community Webinar with the Product Owner Team
3rd July 2019 | Online
Have you ever wondered about the journey an idea takes from a Surpass Community discussion to becoming a great new feature in Surpass? Then this is the webinar for you! Join members of the Product Management team Becca Murdoch and Sophie Brumfitt, as they ‘lift the curtain’ and give you an insight into the Surpass development process.
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Community Webinar – Accessibility Update
20th August 2019 | Online
Join Leon, Accessibility Team Lead at BTL, as he describes our achievements over the last year and how we’ve worked hard to introduce even more accessible functionality to Surpass. Leon will also give a preview of exciting new developments coming to the platform soon.
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Community Webinar – How we improve the User Experience through testing.
4th September 2019 | Online
Every person that uses a piece of software potentially does it in a different way. We’re influenced by a number of things in our day-to-day lives, and this can create a conundrum for designers of new products. Gain a fascinating insight into how the User Interface of Surpass is designed to create an intuitive, stress free experience for item writers, test administrators, and candidates with Lee and Richard from BTL’s Design Team.
Over the course of 45 minutes the pair will discuss the design principles used by the team as well as how extensive user testing and research allows them to observe how users of the software might interact with new features, and identify potential stumbling blocks to efficiency and mental load that need to be addressed before a feature is developed.
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about future webinars > https://www.btl.com/signup
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar
17th September 2019 | Online
Join Georgie and Holly from the Product Communications and Training team as they demonstrate some of the exciting new and enhanced features that will be coming soon to Surpass.
Register here to ensure you receive notifications about this webinar > https://www.btl.com/signup
CNG Washington D.C. – Certification Network Group
11th September 2019 | Washington D.C. USA
The Certification Network Group (CNG) quarterly meetings in Washington D.C. are an excellent opportunity for individuals and organizations who are interested in certification to learn, network and share best practice.
The next gathering of the CNG Washington D.C. on September 11th will be no exception.
Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances the extended lunch session will not take place on this occasion.
Register for this CNG event here: https://certificationnetworkgroup.org/event-3507735
Past – 2018
Surpass Webinar: Insights into the BTL Test Centre Network (On Tour)
23rd January 2018 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
Join members of the BTL Test Centre team as we discuss how the network supports Assessment in the Surpass Community and how independent centres can join this global operation. Addressing questions commonly asked by potential users and the test centres themselves, this webinar will tell you everything you need to know as we broadcast live from an Independent Test Centre in Leeds, UK.
ATP 2018 (Innovations in Testing Conference)
18th – 21st February 2018 | San Antonio, TX, USA
The long established “Innovations in Testing” conference returns in 2018, and will be located in San Antonio, Texas.
More information will be announced on the official conference website:
Event Website: http://www.innovationsintesting.org/
Surpass Pre-Release Webinars
27th February 2018 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
Join members of the BTL team as we take you through some of the exciting new features that will be available in the upcoming release of Surpass. Viewers can interact using the live question form.
Surpass Community Webinar: Surpass & GDPR, Community Update
20th March 2018 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
As part of our commitment to meeting the requirements of GDPR, we have held client workshops to answer questions Surpass users may have about our service in relation to GDPR and associated security requirements. In this webinar, we will be providing a summary of those meetings, and giving those that could not attend an opportunity to find out more information.
Joining the webinar will be Kathryn Myers from our legal team and Clare Stubley, IT Security Manager at BTL. We will take you through this important topic by looking at data handling, storage, retention and deletion.
e-Assessment Question 2018
18th – 19th April 2018 | London, UK
The long established “Assessment Tomorrow” series of events will continue in 2018 with ‘e-Assessment Question 2018’, bringing together a range of speakers and delegates to share opinions and case studies from the industry.
The theme for 2018 will be ‘Risk and Reward: How do we deliver the benefits of e-Assessment?’
More information and booking details are available on the official conference website:
Event Website: http://www.e-assessment-question.com
The International e-Assessment Awards 2018
18th April 2018 | London, UK
From their website: The e-Assessment Association is proud to be entering the second year of the International e-Assessment Awards. One of our key goals as an Association is to communicate the positive contributions that technology makes to all forms of assessment and we look forward to showcasing the very best practice, research and innovation taking place, from organisations, institutions and individuals working in this exciting field.
More information is available on the awards website:
Event Website: http://eassessmentawards.com
Surpass Community Assessment Case Study – TWI
24th April 2018 | Online
Join us for a special case study webinar brought to you live from the offices of TWI. Hear how TWI have invested in summative assessment on an international scale and how they have used different devices such as Compute Sticks and Tablets to overcome test fraud.
If you have missed previous release webinars, then feel free to watch on demand from our release archive.
Surpass Pre-release Webinar
Tuesday 1st May 2018 | Online
Join us ahead of the next Surpass release to see a live demonstration of the latest features. There is also a question form available for you to interact live with our presenters, getting the most out of this dynamic session.
If you have missed previous release webinars, then feel free to watch on demand from our release archive.
Accessibility in Assessment
Tuesday 3rd July 2018 | Online
Join the BTL team as we discuss the role we can all play in providing accessible experiences for candidates in assessment.
We’ll be joined by Leon Hampson, from BTL’s newly formed Accessibility team, who will be focusing on how new features in our HTML Test Driver can deliver assessments to WCAG 2.0 Level AA and Section 508 conformance levels.
Register today to learn more about our recent achievements and what they will mean to the Surpass Community and its users.
Register for the Accessibility in Assessment Webinar here>
If you have missed previous release webinars, then feel free to watch on demand from our release archive.
Surpass Release Webinar: Discover the latest assessment features
Tuesday 7th August 2018 | Online
Join us to explore some of the excellent new features planned to be released to the Surpass Community. Viewers can ask questions as we demonstrate the latest features in Surpass.
Register for the Surpass Release Webinar August 2018 here>
A recording of this webinar is now available to watch on demand from our release archive.
Breakfast Seminar – Latest Advancements in Item Banking and Assessment
11th September 2018 | Chicago, United States
Reserve your place at the Chicago breakfast seminar
Join like-minded industry professionals for a new breakfast seminar and networking event in the Chicago region. In this session, we welcome Manny Straehle from Assessment, Education & Research Experts (AERE) and Melissa Billings, National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to share their insights into advancements in Item Banking and Assessment.
This is an industry focused event designed to provide assessment community professionals with an insight into the latest thinking in Item Banking and Assessments for certification, licensure, and training examinations. With guest speakers and industry networking, you’ll take away plenty of fresh ideas and connections to help you re-evaluate and grow your testing program.
Guest Speakers:
Manny Straehle, President and Founder – Assessment, Education and Research Experts (AERE)
Manny is a consulting assessment, educational and research expert with a number of work experiences with licensure and certification organizations, and over 25 years of experience in the assessment industry.
Over the past 15 years, Manny has taught various courses at the undergraduate and graduate level at Penn State University, Saint Joseph’s University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, and George Washington University. He is also founder and president of the Applied Life Learning Institute (ALL-I) where he offers free monthly webinars on education and assessment topics. He has published two books, several articles, and has presented at numerous conferences. Manny has also delivered presentations related to the value of credentials to help legislative aides in the US Congress to draft bills.
Melissa Billings, Director, Test Materials Development – National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
Melissa Billings serves as Director of Test Materials Development at the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). She directs four editorial teams who develop licensing, in-training, and specialty/sub-specialty certification examination content for physicians, veterinarians and allied health professionals. She is currently Implementation Owner for NBME’s transition to Surpass for their contracted healthcare clients.
Billings has been with the NBME since 2007, when she joined the Board as a Managing Editor. Melissa has worked in professional test development since 1997, previously working on regulatory licensing, certification, and K-12 educational content for several large testing organizations.
We are delighted to welcome Manny Straehle and Melissa Billings as guest speakers at our September event in Chicago. Manny will be providing an insight into using technology for psychometrics, and Melissa will be discussing how NBME have been using Surpass to enhance their approach to item authoring and test development.
E-ATP Innovations in Testing
26th – 28th September 2018 | Athens, Greece
Following the ‘ATP – Innovations in Testing’ conference in San Antonio, TX earlier this year, the E-ATP Conference in September brings together assessment industry professionals from around the world, with a focus on sharing best practice and success stories across borders.
BTL are once again proud to support and exhibit at the event in partnership with our US team at BTL Surpass Inc..
We look forward to hearing your stories and case studies in Athens this September.
More information will be announced on the official conference website:
Event Website: http://www.eatpconference.eu.com
Surpass Conference 2018
11th – 12th October 2018 | Bristol, UK
The annual gathering for the international Surpass Community will be held in Bristol aboard the SS Great Britain. Once again we’ll invite you to share your opinions on the product road-map and hear case studies from a range of organisations.
You can now watch recordings from the 2018 conference on the official website:
Event Website: http://conference.surpass.com
Surpass Release Webinar: Discover the latest assessment features
Tuesday 16th October 2018 | Online
Join us to explore some of the excellent new features planned to be released to the Surpass Community. Viewers can ask questions as we demonstrate the latest features in Surpass.
Add this webinar to my calendar >
If you have missed any of our webinars, you can watch on demand from our release archive.
FAB Conference 2018 (Federation of Awarding Bodies)
18th – 21st 2018 | Leicester, UK
FAB is an excellent Awarding Organisation industry event, covering policy, learning, assessment, and general innovation. At FAB you can network with like-minded individuals, form partnerships, and see what is on offer from suppliers such as BTL.
BTL will be showcasing Surpass and running demonstrations of our flexible and advanced software.
We strongly recommend attending this event if you are interested in the awarding sector in the UK.
More information will be announced on the official conference website:
Event Website: http://www.awarding.org.uk/conference-awards
ICE Exchange 2018 (Institute for Credentialing Excellence)
06th – 09th November 2018 | Austin, TX, USA
From their website: The ICE Exchange conference is the conference for the credentialing community. The name ICE Exchange reflects what is valued most by our annual conference attendees: the exchange of industry trends and best practice through live education and networking.
The ICE Exchange touches on the many aspects of the credentialing ecosystem: Business of Certification; Certification Operations; Certification Technology; The Future of Certification; Governance; Marketing and Communication; Security, Records and Data Management; Strategy of Certification; and Test Development and Administration.
More information will be announced on the official conference website:
Event Website: http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/p/cm/ld/fid=523
BEYOND MULTIPLE CHOICE Conference and Exhibition
07th – 08th November 2018 | Washington, D.C.
Beyond Multiple Choice is an exciting new event taking place in the U.S. with its foundations in the successful and long-established ‘Assessment Tomorrow’ series.
Co-hosted with Perigean, speakers from the US, Canada and the UK will be igniting exciting conversations, including our own Tom Gomersall. Experienced Account Manager Emma Gilmartin will also be in attendance on behalf of BTL / BTL Surpass.
From their website:
Computer based assessment has grown significantly since the early days of automatic test publishing and certification. We have seen developments like paperless examination projects, e-proctoring, AI, the use of large scale assessments for recruitment and selection, credentialing and open badges, social media, ‘Bring Your Own Devices’, the growth of e-portfolios, the proliferation of question types, integration with e-Learning and back-office systems, the rise of government initiatives and policies around the world, the expectations and demands of digital natives and rapid changes in technology.
The key question is
“How can managers and educators move beyond multiple-choice tests to more deeply evaluate the effectiveness of learning, teaching and training?”
This conference addresses just those issues bringing the latest tools and techniques into clear focus, evaluating how they can support learners and teachers in the modern digital age.
More information will be announced on the official conference website:
Event Website: https://www.beyond-multiple-choice.com
Breakfast Seminar – Latest Advancements in Item Banking and Assessment
29th November 2018 | Washington DC, United States
Reserve your place at the Washington DC breakfast seminar
Join like-minded industry professionals for a new breakfast seminar and networking event in the Washington DC region. In this session, we welcome Manny Straehle from Assessment, Education & Research Experts (AERE) and Jamie Saldutti, National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to share their insights into advancements in Item Banking and Assessment.
This is an industry focused event designed to provide assessment community professionals with an insight into the latest thinking in Item Banking and Assessments for certification, licensure, and training examinations. With guest speakers and industry networking, you’ll take away plenty of fresh ideas and connections to help you re-evaluate and grow your testing program.
Guest Speakers:
Ibidun Layi-Ojo, Team Lead – Test Development Solutions – Prometric
Ibi is an assessment, psychometric and research expert with nearly 10 years of test development experience working with licensure and certification organizations.
As Prometric’s Test Development Team Lead, Ibi oversees Surpass implementation projects and feature developments while leading a team of test developers to create high-performance content for Prometric client partners. She champions the use of best-practice methodologies in the creation of technology-based assessment tools for reliable, secure, and legally-defensible exams that properly validate candidate knowledge. Ibi holds a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Baltimore.
Manny Straehle, President and Founder – Assessment, Education and Research Experts (AERE)
Manny is a consulting assessment, educational and research expert with a number of work experiences with licensure and certification organizations, and over 25 years of experience in the assessment industry.
Over the past 15 years, Manny has taught various courses at the undergraduate and graduate level at Penn State University, Saint Joseph’s University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, and George Washington University. He is also founder and president of the Applied Life Learning Institute (ALL-I) where he offers free monthly webinars on education and assessment topics. He has published two books, several articles, and has presented at numerous conferences. Manny has also delivered presentations related to the value of credentials to help legislative aides in the US Congress to draft bills.
Jamie Saldutti, Infrastructure Director – National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
Jamie is an Infrastructure Director in the Professional Services division of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). She has been with NBME for over 10 years in various project management and business process improvement roles, and has earned the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) certifications. She has led the implementation of several 3rd party enterprise software solutions at NBME including Liferay Portal, Broadleaf eCommerce, and JReport for score reporting.
Saldutti is a member of NBME’s Agile Steering Committee which is leading the adoption of Agile Scrum for the development of NBME’s proprietary applications. She is currently responsible for the project program at NBME that includes the implementation of Surpass to replace several NBME legacy systems used for authoring, editing and reviewing test items.
We are delighted to welcome Manny Straehle and Jamie Saldutti as guest speakers at our September event in Washington DC. Manny will be providing an insight into using technology for psychometrics, and Jamie will be discussing how NBME have been using Surpass to enhance their approach to item authoring and test development.
Surpass Community Webinar – Combining media enhanced item types to improve on-screen testing (with telc Language Tests)
Tuesday 4th December 2018 | Online – 15:00 GMT / 10:00 EST @ https://btl.com/surpasslive
If you missed the fascinating training workshop with telc at the conference last week (or you simply can’t get enough of hearing from them), you’ll be glad to hear they will be co-hosting our next Surpass Community Webinar.
Join us as we talk about their journey into e-assessment so far, and how moving from paper to on-screen has allowed them to truly innovate.
As with all of our live webinars, we invite you to ask questions and interact using the question function on the Surpass Live web page.
Add this event to my calendar >
If you have missed any of our previous live streams watch on demand from our release archive.
Past – 2017
Surpass: Special Interest Group – End-Point Assessment
25th January 2017 | Bradford, UK
This Surpass special interest group is open to Surpass customers and those by invitation only, places are limited to ensure the day is a productive as possible. This event will take the form of a workshop exploring the topic of EPAs and the opportunities and challenges is presents to BTL’s customers.
We will explore:
- Business development.
- Opportunities for collaboration.
- Feature requirements to stay ahead of the competition.
ATP Conference: Innovations in Testing
5th – 8th 2017 | Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
Once again BTL are looking forward to this fantastic event and the insight it brings to the global testing sector.
This year we are also proud to announce that BTL will be exhibiting at the event as a Gold sponsor, and presenting an ePoster session.
From their website: The 2017 Innovations in Testing Conference brings together assessment industry professionals from practice areas such as Certification/Licensure, Clinical, Educational, Industrial/Organizational and Workforce Skills Credentialing. The conference provides a venue for attendees to learn from and collaborate. Plan to attend as we showcase innovation, explore best practices and present case studies – all in an effort to move our industry, and professionals like you – forward.
For more detailed information, visit the conference website:
Event Website: http://www.innovationsintesting.org/
e-Assessment Question 2017
22nd – 23rd March 2017 | London, UK
The long established “Assessment Tomorrow” series of events will continue in 2017 with e-Assessment Question 2017, bringing together a range of speakers and delegates to share opinions and case studies from the industry.
This year also sees the conference working together with the e-Assessment Association to produce the first e-Assessment Awards Gala Dinner.
From the website:
“Conference Goal: To examine how the tools, techniques and technologies of e-Assessment can respond to the challenges of the world we live in.”
For more detailed information, visit the conference website:
Event Website: http://www.e-assessment-question.com
The All New e-Assessment Awards 2017
22nd March 2017 | London, UK
From the website:
“The e-Assessment Association is proud to launch our first International e-Assessment Awards. One of our key goals as an Association is to communicate the positive contributions that technology makes to all forms of assessment and we look forward to showcasing the very best practice, research and innovation taking place, from organisations, institutions and individuals working in this exciting field.”
The eAA is now accepting entries and you can submit yours here: http://eassessmentawards.com/enter-now
For more detailed information, visit the conference website:
Event Website: http://eassessmentawards.com
AO Forum
9th May 2017 | London, UK
The 2017 AO Forum continues to be presented in association with the Federation of Awarding Bodies, and once again BTL are proud to be exhibiting at the event. More details about speakers and represented organisations can be expected on the official event website soon.
Information about the 2016 event can be found on the AO Forum website: http://www.parnassusonline.com/aoforum.aspx
EPA Webinar: Creating and managing rich and engaging content with Surpass
12th May 2017 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
End-Point Assessments have been introduced to enhance the quality and validity of apprenticeship training. With knowledge-based testing being a fundamental part of that process, it is important that AAOs have access to professional assessment tools. Surpass is already used by a large number of AAOs for existing non-apprenticeship training, therefore making it the perfect choice for EPAs when delivering high-stakes knowledge-based assessment. Surpass supports the creation and delivery of complex assessments with rich and engaging content, perfect for AAOs wishing to provide realistic assessments either as part of a scenario or with example industry documentation and reference material. During this EPA webinar, we will take you through the features within Surpass that let you build and share rich, professional assessment content.
Join us for this, the first in a mini-series of webinars, looking at Surpass and its support for customers undertaking or planning on undertaking End-Point Assessment work.
Within this webinar we will be covering:
- Overview of Item Authoring functionality
- Using resource material within assessments
- Using rich media within assessments
- Grouping items in delivery & the candidate experience
- Migrating assessment content to Surpass from other platforms
- Collaborating on content authoring with Surpass
e-Vocational 2017 Assessment Tomorrow in Association with FAB
18th May 2017 | Leeds, UK
The Assessment Tomorrow series of conferences continues with its popular one day event focussed on the latest use of technology in vocational assessment and the impact it has on all involved.
More information about the Assessment Tomorrow confernece series can be found on their official website http://www.assessmenttomorrow.co/
Surpass Release Webinar – An Introduction to the Simplified Item Authoring Interface
22nd June 2017 | Online
Taking into account the changing needs of existing users, and making use of well-researched User Interface design techniques, the next release of Surpass BTL will introduce a cleaner and more manageable authoring experience.
These changes are an evolution – further streamlining the item creation process and making it more intuitive for item authors. To give you an insight into the new interface, we will be hosting a webinar introducing the new interface – giving you the opportunity to ask your questions and understand the thinking behind the new layout.
Sign up to join us for this exclusive look at the upcoming changes to Surpass: The Assessment Platform.
A recording of this webinar will be made available after the event.
Within this webinar, we will be covering:
- An introduction to the new interface.
- The rationale behind the changes.
- Future planned development in this area.
- An insight into other features planned for the next release.
Surpass Webinar: Exploring the benefits of Scrum development for the Surpass Community
13th July 2017 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
Developing using the Agile methodology ‘Scrum’ is something BTL decided to commit to over 3 years ago. It has been a big culture change, not only for BTL, but for the high-profile members of the Surpass Community. Surpass: The Assessment Platform is an integral part of the businesses it is used by, and development needs to be rapid and of the highest quality; BTL’s commitment to Agile and Scrum has enabled this.
Join us for what will be a fascinating exploration of how Agile has enabled the Surpass Community to shine in the world of assessment.
Surpass Pre-Release Webinar
28th September 2017 | Online
Join members of the BTL team as we take you through some of the exciting new features that will be available in the upcoming release of Surpass. Viewers can interact using the live question form, and this is the perfect opportunity to see the latest features before attending the Surpass Conference the following week.
E-ATP 2017
27th – 29th September 2017 | Noordwijk, The Netherlands
This year the popular E-ATP conference will be held in the Netherlands, with the headline topic “Advancing Human Capital with Assessments”. More information can be found on the official website here: http://www.eatpconference.eu.com/media/EATP2017_CFP-Instructions.pdf
More details on attendees from BTL are available now on http://www.btl.com/eatp along with our ‘book a demo’ form.
From the E-ATP website:
“This year’s E-ATP conference will highlight key innovations and advances in assessment design, development, and delivery that will lead to future advancements in the testing industry. Join us in The Netherlands as we discuss this and many other related topics.”
For more detailed information, visit the conference website:
Event Website: http://www.eatpconference.eu.com
Surpass Conference 2017
5th – 6th October 2017 | York, England
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Surpass: The Assessment Platform, this year we are inviting you to join us in York.
Presentations and videos from previous Surpass Conferences are now available on conference.surpass.com.
FAB 2017: Conference, Awards and Exhibition
19th – 20th October 2017 | Leicester, England
More details about the 2017 FAB Conference, Awards and Exhibition will be made available shortly.
Highlights from the 2016 event are available now on the offical website at http://www.awarding.org.uk/conference-awards
ICE Exchange
23rd – 26th October 2017 | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
From the Website:“The ICE Exchange conference is the conference for the credentialing community. The name ICE Exchange reflects what is valued most by our annual conference attendees: the exchange of industry trends and best practice through live education and networking.”
For details on this conference, please visit the official website: http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/exchange
Linear Optimisation in Surpass: The Assessment Platform – Webinar
16th November 2017 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
One of the many innovations recently added to Surpass is the use of linear optimisation to aid in the automation of test assembly. This powerful development can assist your organisation and its psychometricians to create the best possible test forms in a fraction of the usual time.
In this webinar, Tim Burnett will be joined by BTL’s Senior Solutions Architect Dave Dixon to explain in a little more detail how linear optimisation already benefits the wider testing industry, and how the new features in Surpass can unlock opportunities for your organisation.
Dave will also be discussing the new Linear On-the-Fly Testing (LOFT) functionality which has been introduced in the latest update to Surpass.
Surpass Webinar: 2017 Conference and Industry Round-up
12th December 2017 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
Join us for a special year-end webinar where we look back at 2017 and what has happened in the assessment industry. This webinar will include highlights from the 2017 Surpass Conference.
Surpass Pre-Release Webinars
19th December 2017 | Online
To watch a recording of this webinar, please click here >
Join members of the BTL team as we take you through some of the exciting new features that will be available in the upcoming release of Surpass. Viewers can interact using the live question form.