Assessment Demystified and Clarified

Assessment demystified and clarified

Speaking to various providers recently has brought me to a point of total frustration, irritation and disenchantment with some, perhaps many of our colleagues in the field of Education, Training and Development practices.

I am now writing, tongue in cheek, and will perhaps attract the wrath of many. I will however state my case in the interest of ethical practice and in the hope I can assist those in doubt.

I refer in particular to the various providers who fail to comply with the detailed requirements of specific unit standards. I refer to providers who complete the POE with or for the learners. I refer to providers who supply specific pages as part of the learner manual to be used for inclusion in the POE.

Applied Competence is defined as - The ability to put into practice in the relevant context the learning outcomes acquired in obtaining a qualification. In the case of assessor and moderator training I ask is this is the case?

Some of our training colleagues are in effect completing the POE on behalf of the learners. The assessor unit standard suggest the learner should have access to assessment guides and where such guides are not available then the provider should makes such guides available for the purpose of assessment.

This does not indicate or imply in any way that providers should spend a day assisting the learners in the completion of the POE or supplying the learners with specific pages for inclusion in the POE. It refers specifically to the assessment guide.

I addition I am disappointed at the approach taken particularly in the training of assessors and moderators where very basic requirements are not adhered to and/or the policies and procedures are not explained to the learners. So much within the unit standard 115753, refers to explaining and ensuring understanding of the purpose, process, expectations, roles and responsibilities of assessors.

I have spoken to a large number of assessors recently who claimed to be registered as assessors but when asked if they are registered as constituent assessors had no idea what I was referring to.

Let’s have a look at some definitions in the hope we can clarify and assist in putting new assessors and moderators on the right track. The following definitions have been taken directly from the SAQA web site.

Assessment

The process of collecting evidence of learners’ work to measure and make judgments about the achievement or non-achievement of specified National Qualifications Framework standards or qualifications

Assessor

A person who is registered by the relevant ETQA body to measure the achievement of specified National Qualifications Framework standards or qualifications

Constituent Assessor

A qualified assessor (US 115753) and/or Moderator (US 115759) must be registered as a constituent assessor and/or Moderator against specific Qualifications and/or Unit Standards with the relevant SETA or ETQA

In a nutshell - Once a person has qualified as an Assessor and/or Moderator and is registered with the ETDP SETA as such they receive a certificate from the ETDP SETA.

They must then make application to various SETAS of their choice for registration as constituent assessors and/or moderators against specific unit standards and /or qualifications for which the SETA is the ETQA.

Assessors and moderators are only permitted to assess or moderate against the unit standards and qualifications against which they are registered.

On successful registration the relevant SETA will issue a certificate of registration as a constituent assessor indicating the unit standards and/or qualifications against which the individual has been registered.

Without such registration an assessor is not permitted to assess, as is currently happening, and any such assessments would be null and void.

To those who behave ethically and have taken the time to read this I compliment you. To the others I say shame on you.

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