Assessment Validation
Reviewed and Updated: May 2008
- What is assessment validation in the VET sector?
- How do you participate in assessment validation?
- Why?
- Websites
- Publications
What is assessment validation in the VET sector?
Assessment validation refers to a process where assessors compare and evaluate against the relevant competency standard/s to ensure, validity, reliability, fairness, flexibility and effectiveness of their:
- assessment methods
- assessment tools
- assessment procedures
- assessment decisions
Maxwell (2000) suggests that the concept of ‘professional conversation’ is a good way to describe the process that should occur between assessors during assessment validation activities.
How do you participate in assessment validation?
Assessment validation may be carried out in a range of ways, by assessors from:
- within one Registered Training Organisation – for example a TAFE Institute
- a number of Registered Training Organisations – for example in a regional network of assessors
- across a particular industry area - for example the Food Processing Industry
In the last few years the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) has placed a much stronger emphasis on assessment validation as a process to ensure the quality and consistency of assessment. Mutual Recognition of VET qualifications across Australia is a cornerstone of the national VET system.
In the revised 2005 Standards for Registered Training Organisations Standard 9.2 states that
'The RTO must validate its assessment strategies by:
i reviewing, comparing and evaluating the assessment processes, tools and evidence contributing to judgements made by a range of assessors against the same competency standard, at least annually
ii documenting any action taken to improve the quality and consistency of assessment.'
Websites
Maximising confidence in assessment decision making – Resource kit for assessors
This really handy resource for practitioners contains a lot of practical material to help assessors and Registered Training Organisations maintain the quality of their assessment systems. It includes an overview of how registered training organisations can develop a validation or moderation process, and a range of checklists that assessors can use as part of the assessment review process. A resource developed by Robin Booth, Berwyn Clayton, Robyn House and Sue Roy (PDF document) can be accessed from this link.
A summary of the resource at the NCVER web site.
Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training – Assessor Networks in Action
A useful resource for those interested in setting up industry based assessor networks. Funded by ANTA in 2003 this publication provides an overview of assessor networks and information necessary for starting up and maintaining a network. It also provides access to a range of case studies related to industry-based assessor networks.
ANTA – Assessment Guide 9 – Assessor Networks
This publication provides support and practical information for individuals and groups interested in establishing or extending assessor networks in the VET sector.
This guide is one in a set of 10 produced as part of the Training Package Assessment Materials Project. The guides provide tools and resources to help assessors improve assessment practices. You can download a PDF document. Printed copies can be ordered through Australian Training Products.
Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training - Planning Proforma for Validation Approaches Template - Standard 09
Use this tool to plan, manage and record your assessment validation activities. It’s been adapted from resources in the Guides 7 and 10 in the ANTA Assessment Guides.
Training Packages@Work
A Back 2 Basics article on Assessment Validation available in this free national useful newsletter for teachers/trainers and assessors in the VET sector. Summarising key current developments and issues this newsletter allows you to quickly see what’s the latest with the Training Packages and other issues related to vocational training. You can access previous issues and articles back to 2003.
Publications
MAXWELL, G S 2001, Moderation of Assessment in Vocational Education and Training, University of Queensland, Australia.
This is a really relevant publication for the Australian VET context. Maxwell looks at both the Australian and UK VET contexts in exploring quality assurance issues.
TAFE NSW Vocational Education and Assessment Centre 2002, On Track - Moving towards Assessment Validation (347KB)
Word Document also available (2.7MB)
A nationally acknowledged resource developed by TAFE NSW (through the former Vocational Education and Assessment Centre), this resource is very ‘hands on’ and a ‘must’ for assessors, managers and any workplace or RTO personnel involved in assessment validation. Funded in 2002 through the NSW DET, the resource development stage involved over 50 NSW Registered Training Organisations.
See also
Assessment validation – a journey NAVAL Changing the tide! INTERVIEW | eZine August 2006