Award in Assessment Design and Verification Practices in Further and Higher Education Programmes in VET
Course Description
In a good quality programme of studies, assessment should be considered as an integral part of the learning, hence the assessment for learning approach is at the centre of this training programme. Subject experts who take this training programme, who may be prospective or already practicing lecturers and faculty, will be trained to become well versed and qualified in assessment approaches, assessment design, assessment procedures and verification processes in Vocational Education and Training (VET), practice placement assessment, and logbook/portfolio design and assessment.
The training programme is an Award in Assessment Design and Verification Practices in Further and Higher Education Programmes in VET at MQF Level 6.
This training programme combines theory, practice, and research, with a practical component involving experiential learning.
In the Assessment Design and Feedback for Learning in VET module, participants will:
- Understand assessment and feedback design and practice.
- Design student-centric assessments aligned with standards.
- Create assignment briefs, observation schedules, logbook/portfolio templates, and contextualized rubrics.
- Practice marking assignments, providing constructive feedback, and grading placement experiences.
Participants will be supervised by qualified experts during formative assessment tasks.
In the Quality and Verification Practices in Vocational Education module, participants will:
- Learn about quality assurance and verification practices in vocational education.
- Practice verifying assessment designs, assignment briefs, observation schedules, logbooks/portfolios, and rubrics.
- Review and improve assessment decisions by examining samples of students’ work and other lecturers’ feedback, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and suggesting alternative solutions.
The programme includes:
- 75 hours of guided learning (face-to-face or blended)
- 10 hours of supervised practice, 210 hours of self-study,
- and 80 hours of assessment.
It combines theory, practice, and research, including experiential learning. Participants will gain skills in designing student-centric assessments, assignment briefs, observation schedules, and rubrics, marking assignments, providing feedback, and grading placement experiences.
Additionally, they will learn quality assurance and verification practices, reviewing and improving assessment decisions. Participants will be supervised by qualified experts during practical tasks.
Entry Requirements
- Full Qualification at MQF Level 6 or equivalent
Target Audience
This programme has the following target groups:
- Prospective or already practicing lecturers and faculty.
Career Paths
This programme aims to equip the target audience with the knowledge, skills and competences listed in this application.
The possible posts that this course prepares for are:
- Further and Higher Education Assessors in VET.
- Trainers on Assessment and Verification Training Programmes for Further and Higher Education (FE/HE) in VET.
- Internal/External Verifiers in FE/HE in VET.
Modules
You are required to complete all 2 compulsory modules (15 ECTS) to fulfil the requirements of this award degree.
🏁 Amazing! You’ve just achieved your Award in Assessment.
Award in Assessment Design and Verification Practices in Further and Higher Education Programmes in VET
How you’ll be assessed
The course comprises:
- Evening classes for part-time courses.
- Classes held throughout the day for full-time courses.
- Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
- Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out via two mandatory components:
- Assessment 1
- Assessment 2
The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules.
Course Intake Dates
TBC 2024
Learning Outcomes
For Knowledge:
The learner will be able to:
Assessment Design and Feedback for Learning in VET:
- Develop an understanding of assessment theory and purpose in F/HE in VET.
- Plan assessment as part of the learning process to assess student learning and own teaching in the vocational context.
- Design fit-for-purpose assessments in terms of mode, level, standards, and outcomes.
- Design adequate grading rubrics and use them effectively to ensure fair, reliable and consistent marking.
- Provide constructive feedback to ensure that students’ learning is enhanced by their assessment experiences.
- Examine the portfolios of evidence of the students.
- Observe, guide, and assess the performance of the students during practice placements.
- Be proficient in assessing vocational skills, knowledge, competences, and attitudes of the students.
Quality Assurance and Verification Practices in Vocational Education:
- Understand the Quality Assurance aspects in VET and processes of verification from pre-issue to post issue of assignment brief and sampling stage.
- Conduct verification of assignment brief effectively taking into consideration key aspects including level, occupational standards, outcomes, standards, loading, mode of assessment, accessibility, and clarity.
- Conduct verification of assignment sample effectively taking into consideration expected output, standards, structure, plagiarism, lecturer’s marking, and feedback.
For Learning Skills:
The learner will be able to:
- Clearly identify what a student needs to show to prove that the outcome is achieved.
- Choose instructional language carefully to ensure appropriateness to task.
- Define workload in terms of hours ensuring that it is reflective of the number of ECTS carried by the module.
- Plan assessment design that generates the valid and reliable evidence of learning required in VET.
- Construct a clear and effective assignment brief that is: aligned with the learning outcomes; relevant to the field of study; allows for learning as part of the process of doing it; provides an opportunity for critical thinking; is engaging.
- Use approved assignment brief and Rubric effectively to conduct the marking and scoring of an assignment.
- Observe and grade students’ knowledge, skills, competences, and attitudes in practices.
- Mark and score the students’ portfolios/logbooks.
- Provide feedback to students that is constructive, clearly indicating strengths, areas needing improvement and suggestions as to how they can be improved.
- Check that the assessment tasks are fit for purpose and aligned to the established assessment criteria, and module specifications.
- Review the work of the student against the assessment rubric and judge whether it has been assessed accurately.
- Review the feedback from the lecturer is accurate and supportive and linked to the assessment rubric.
- Point out to the lecturer and inaccuracies that need to be corrected prior to the results are being made available to the students.