Evaluate_Different_Techniques_for_Sampling_Evidence_of_Assessmnent,_Including_Use_of_Technology

Bibliography Gravells .A (2012) Achieving your TAQA Assessor & Internal Quality Assurer Award. SAGE Outcome3 3a Evaluate different techniques for sampling evidence of assessment, including use of technology. There are a wide variety of techniques for sampling evidence of assessment all valuable for different reasons. Records Records play a huge part in the sampling process and are often evidence from both the assessor and learner, often planned together, agreed and jointly signed to further validate. Any form of recorded information would be designed to link together to form a full picture of a learner’s journey and the evidence collected to complete a qualification in full following awarding bodies’ criteria. Within ESG we use participation and progression reviews to reflect, evaluate and plan each visit in a learner’s journey, these are tri part and allow the assessor, learner and employer full participation in planning learning and tracking progress within the learner’s journey. To support the PPRs we use many more recorded documents E.g. • Learning Delivery plans, • Portfolios • Log Books • Consultation sheets • Action Plans and Assessment Reports • Appeals procedure • Witness Statement’s • Tests result papers, Oral question records and assignments • Trackers Practice Quality Assurer’s will use a variety of different practice to maintain the quality of assessment and a high standard within the company. Examples of these practices are: • Graded observations • Standardisation • Sampling • One to One support • Team meetings • Shadowing • Sharing of best practice and ideas By using a variety of practice the Quality Assurance team can identify strengths and weaknesses within the team or in individuals and provide support where needed. Products Products to use in Quality assessment can be described as work or evidence created by the assessor and learner to validate learning that has taken place. Examples of these that we use in our company are: Observation • Consultation sheets • PPR • Assessment Reports • E Assessor These all create a clear audit trail Other work product evidence: • Assignments • Case studies • Photos /videos • Taped discussions • Employment Rights and Responsibilities Workbook • Test Papers • Witness testimony (not always reliable) • Oral Questions(recorded properly) • End Product All of the above show progression and support all areas of the qualification and although personalized to each learner they are often standardized forms or criteria that meet the qualification requirements. Stake Holders There are many stake holders involved in the Assessment and Quality Assurance process. All are involved to again support and maintain a high standard of delivery and to ensure that companies are working to National standards and meeting the criteria set out in any given qualification framework. • External Verifiers (usually from the Awarding body of a Qualification) • SFA (check Audit trails are in place and quality for money is in evidence) • Habia (helping to set the standards that learners are working to and feedback on any changes • Benchmarks ( looking at national targets and working towards them) • Employers and Learners(Feedback of quality of learning/learners) • Surveys(helping to evaluate how performing as a centre and identify areas for improvement) When sampling assessors work we can use one of a few methods; including: • Diagonal, which includes a variety of units from all learners. • Vertical, the same units from all of one assessors learners • Horizontal, all units over a variety of learners ,including all assessment strategies • Technical, don’t assume that all assessors know how to work IT systems. According to Gravells(2012:p114) Whichever methods you use, they should be fit for purpose and ensure that something from each assessor is sampled over time. The above techniques are all equally important to ensure and maintain a high quality of both the assessment and the Quality Assurance process; to enable centres to work to a high standard and follow both legal and awarding body requirements. 3b Explain the appropriate criteria to use for judging the quality of the assessment process VASCAR can be referred to when judging the quality of the assessment process. V Is it valid; does the work meet the criteria and standards that are being worked towards' A Is the work authentic; is the work the learners/assessors own' C Is it current; is it linked to the current standards/up to date' S Is the evidence sufficient: is there enough to meet the requirements' R Reliability; are assessment decisions consistent and assessed to the appropriate levels for the qualification' Another acronym which is good to relate to during the process is ACR A Accuracy/audit trail ensuring all paperwork matches C Is there consistency over all, are all assessors working to the same standardized procedures R Record keeping, are all records accurate and thorough for example are all dates and signatures correct and present. It is vitally important to ensure the above are maintained and followed when judging the quality of assessment process to contribute to standardization throughout the company and to identify and discrepancies or support needed either for individuals or the team as a whole.