VECO Online Guest: Assessment in VET

Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 09:37:28 +1100
To: voced-coord@rite.ed.qut.edu.au
From: Janine Bowes <jbowes@ozemail.com.au>
Subject:Assessment instruments - summary

Good morning all I thought it might be useful to pull together some of the discussion last week with our assessment online guests. In particular, I have collated the references to assessment instruments and added a few others that I have found - is this collection useful and can you add to it?

Suggestion to pool resources:
Shelley Gillis (who is posting on behalf of herself and Jack Keating) has raised many pertinent issues relating to validity of assessment. She has also suggested that the development of a task bank might be a useful resource to minimise reinvention of wheels. Paul Kearney suggested that collection of "sample assessment guides" might be more useful. Shelley offered further clarification by specifying the minimum requirements for an assessment task and noting that devices such as checklists are NOT assessment tasks. Other feedback to me suggested that such a bank of resources might work best on a "response to request" basis

Tip for improving assessments:
Paul Kearney offered this tip: encourage assessors to look very hard at the verbs in the elements of competence and performance criteria. The verbs, along with a good understanding of strengths and weakness of individual evidences are the key to valid assessments.

Sample assessment tasks developed as part of ASTF funded research project
Examples of assessment tasks developed as part of the ASTF funded assessment in school industry programs can be found under the instruments link at http://arc.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/research/vet_in_schools/index.html

It also includes useful template for people to design their own assessment tasks. The specific assessment instruments developed are:

* Administration: communications BSA COM201 Receive and pass on oral messages to facilitate effective routine communication

* Metal and Engineering: Perform computations, electrical/electronic measurement, use hand tools

* Hospitality: Work with colleagues and customers, work in a socially diverse environment, follow health, safety and security measures

Industry Developed Assessment Instruments (Forest & Forest Products)
Carlene Alexander reminded us that some industries have developed assessment instruments to accompany each unit of competency but that because they are non endorsed, they may not be available for all training packages.

The Forest and Forest Products Industries has designed assessment instruments for the generic as well as specific industry units of competency. The Forest Industries VET in Schools programs have been using the assessment instruments for a couple of years.

Contact: Carlene Alexander National Co-ordinator School to Work Transition-Forest Industries Ph: 03 98942411 Toll free 1800 807132 Fax: 03 9878 7312

Curriculum Corporation VET in Schools site
This site has assessment resources as a subcategory of "online resources" for each of the industry areas that form the basis of the site. The exact materials provided vary from industry to industry and are often a taster for other resources that are available for purchase.

Industry	Summary
Agriculture	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/agricult/assess.htm describes general assessment strategies and includes a report proforma, assessment matrix and checklist for download or viewing online
Automotive	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/automotv/assess.htm gives general guidelines and includes 2 excerpts from a CD ROM: Example 1: Observation/Checklist Example 2: Collaborative Assessment
Building and Construction	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/buildcon/assess.htm provides two examples: Example 1: Using simulated situations for assessment Example 2: Log Books
Business	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/business/assess.htm describes a general approach to developing integrated learning resources/assessment tasks
Community Services	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/commserv/assess.htm describes assessment principles, has 2 case studies of assessment approaches and includes assessment materials
Horticulture	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/horticul/assess.htm describes relevant assessment strategies and includes report proforma, assessment matrix and checklist
Hospitality	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/hospital/assess.htm provides approaches to the valid and reliable assessment of competencies in the National Hospitality Training Package, particularly at the school/RTO - industry interface. 4 sample instruments are included
Information Technology	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/infotech/assess.htm provides examples from the Approaches to Delivery and Assessment of Information Technology (Client Support) support materials including simulated workplace; a tool for indentifying gaps; 2 different assessment record proformas and a mapping chart.
Manufacturing /Engineering	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/engineer/assess.htm includes general guidelines and 4 module assessment exemplars (2 OH&S, hand & power tools and machining)
Racing	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/racing/assess.htm general guidelines plus 5 sample assessment instruments and reference to sample recording procedures in the resources section
Tourism	http://www.curriculum.edu.au/vetis/tourism/assess.htm General guidelines and 3 sample assessments Sample 1 - Follow Health, Safety and Security Procedures Sample 2 - Communicate on the telephone Sample 3 - Perform Clerical Procedures