Assessment Validation: Instructions

Procedure

1. ACAS sites must use the ACAS validation form current at the time.
2. Validation is unnecessary when ACAS Centre validates qualifications for the whole of ACAS.
3. Use one form per qualification per site per qualification.
4. Extensive preparation is necessary, e.g. form a team, collect and collate feedback on assessment processes and suggestions for improvements.
5. “Part 3. Assessment judgements” may be safely omitted in programs where no assessments have been conducted.
6. Boxes in this form will expand as you type.
7. As you go, keep notes of anything confusing or needing improvement in this form.

What is it validation?

“Validation is the quality review of the assessment process. Validation involves
[1.] checking that the assessment tool/s produce/s valid, reliable, sufficient, current and authentic evidence
[2.] to enable reasonable judgements to be made as to whether the requirements of the training package or VET accredited courses are met.
[3.] It includes
     [a.] reviewing a statistically valid sample of the assessments and
     [b.] making recommendations for future improvements to the assessment tool, process and/or outcomes and
     [c.] acting upon such recommendations.

SRTO S.v. Validation.

Personnel requirements

One or more persons who are not directly involved in the particular instance of delivery and assessment of the training product being validated, and who collectively* have:

1. vocational competencies and current industry skills relevant to the assessment being validated;
2. current knowledge and skills in vocational teaching and learning; and
3. the training and assessment credential as specified (See appendix)

Industry experts may be involved in validation to ensure there is the combination of expertise set out above.

* “one or more persons who ...who collectively have...”

Team formation

1. It is possible that one person could meet all requirements.
2. If more than one person is in the validation, they may meet these requirements between them. (It does not mean that each person must meet them all.)
3. It is presumed, but not necessarily required, that:
   1. Personnel with the required qualification in Training and Assessment also have current knowledge and skills in vocational education.
   2. The independent person has vocational competencies and current industry skills.

Improvement

Assessment tools that comply with all requirements might still need improvement. For example, they might have one or more of these characteristics:

• They ony just get over the line for compliance.
• They ony just get over the line for acquisition of skills.
• The assessment period is very brief.
• They are better suited to be used as learning activities.
• They don't reflect the purpose of the original unit because they are very contextualized.
• They collect minimum evidence.
• They have minimum assessment records.
• Little or no assessment is done in the workplace.
• Explanations are vague.
• Written explanation is so brief that it is unclear.
• Written explanation is so wordy or repetitive that users will not read it.
• Written explanation is so wordy or repetitive that users will not understand it.