Ptlls_Theory_7

A vital part of the learning process is Assessment. The right assessment method must be chosen by the Teacher to ensure the Student receives a suitable level of learning based on their key skills, current knowledge and experience. We use the general term assessment to refer to all those activities undertaken by teachers -- and by their students in assessing themselves -- that provide information to be used as feedback to modify teaching and learning activities. Such assessment becomes formative assessment when the evidence is actually used to adapt the teaching to meet student needs. Black, P. & Wiliam, D. 1998. Inside the Black Box: Raising standards through classroom assessment, King’s College, London I have split the assessment process into 3 stages for discussion: Initial Assessment: This provides the information needed to plan an individual’s learning and improve their chances of learning effectively. Without this process we would only assume. Learners themselves bring assumptions about learning, based on the past, and some of these may get in the way of looking ahead to a new way of learning. This process is started on the first day of learner contact. A range of methods are used in my sector. An initial discussion is completed questioning prior achievement and experience plus what they wish to achieve and how it will be of use. Literacy and Numeracy are tested by a short diagnostic, to ensure they have suitable level of competence to complete the portfolio evidence. It is vital to ascertain what they wish to achieve and how they wish to progress as if the content is not as expected it is unlikely they will complete the qualification. The initial assessment will then form the individual learning plan (ILP) for each learner. Formative Assessment This is ongoing and identifies strengths and weaknesses with the student throughout the course, feedback should be provided through this process to help progression to the end goal. Each learner will complete a learning journal which is part of the ILP. This is then reviewed by the assessor at the end of each session, it is vital the student is honest and open to ensure they get the best out of the course. Observation is a method used in the NVQ and may only be completed by an expert witness or qualified assessor. This should be planned with the learner. It is the assessor’s responsibility to record this in a suitable manner. The assessor should give feedback to the learner when this is complete. Product Evidence provides proof of what the student can do. This should be actual work product or a photograph of the product. Knowledge Test shows the students understanding of the unit requirements and can be produced in various formats. This could be a candidate statement which can also be authenticated by product evidence; this must be countersigned by someone who can validate it as a true account. The student can also complete questioning. Evidence can be written or oral. Simulation would be used to gather evidence on certain tasks or situations. The student must have the guidelines explained and what information the assessor is looking for. It must be well planned and controlled by the assessor Summative Assessment Within the NVQ field the student’s evidence should be assessed throughout to ensure submission to the Internal Verifier is timely and does not require an assessor to recall the student. At the end of the course the learner should complete an end of course evaluation to ensure their objectives agreed in the initial assessment process have been met and the course was successful to both the student and teacher. This also allows for comments on course improvements. In conclusion, the above methods discussed are not exhaustive, but the most common in the industry in which I teach. In my opinion the most important is to agree objectives with the student throughout the whole process to ensure they have an understanding and feel they have input to the learning process. This I find ensures the learner enjoys their learning and actually uses the skills going forward. Word Count 678