Assessment College of South Africa (Pty) Ltd

1. Assessment College of South Africa (Pty) Ltd Assessor and Moderator Networking event 2008 Presenters: Gerda Magnus & Herman de Vries

2. assessment and moderation Best practice

3. Scope • Assessment as integral part of the learning process • The guiding role of the moderator

4. assessment concepts Understand that the principles of learning, facilitation and assessment are the guiding values in learner-centred outcomes-based education

5. assessment as part of learning Develop background knowledge and positive attitude towards assessment as integral part of the learning process

6. moderation concepts Understand the quality assurance duty of the moderator in the design, conduct and guidance of the assessment effort

7. moderation support and guidance Accept the role of leader, manager, coach and mentor to assessors and assessment designers

8. assessment Best practice

9. the need • The most important investment we can make is to provide teachers with . . . useful learning opportunities that will build their confidence and understanding. • . . . In pursuing these opportunities they must have sufficient time to read and think and write, and to reflect on their practice. • Mary Metcalfe – Sunday Times 13 Jan 08

10. Assessment system Prepare Plan and make arrangements Prepare the Candidate[s] Controllers Conduct the Assessment Gather, Record, Evaluate & Judge the evidence Declared readiness of Candidate Statement of Competence Feedback Review Moderate Enablers

11. assessment context The circumstances under which the assessment is going to be carried out; in other words the particular perspective and background of the assessment. (application of knowledge within his/her discipline).

12. assessment task Enabling skills Resources and guidelines Evidence of Learning

13. Concepts of learning • Deep • Shallow • Strategic • Scaffolded

14. strategic learning It means learning one or more skills as enabling outcomes so that a higher-order skill may be acquired

15. scaffolded learning It is the degree of support, guidance and direction given to students when they set out to complete a task, whether it is formative assessment, experiential learning, or summative assessment.

16. deep learning Deep learning involves the critical analysis of new ideas, linking them to already known concepts; leads to the understanding and long-term retention of concepts; results of such learning is best for problem solving in unfamiliar contexts.

17. surface learning The intention of surface learning is to cope with course requirements such as memorising it as isolated and unrelated facts; leads to superficial retention of material without reflecting on purpose.

18. moderation Best practice

19. Moderation system Controllers: laws, regulations, policy Plan & prepare Conduct Moderation • Judgment on Competence • Appeal • New material Decision on Quality Advise & Support Report, Record & Administer Review Enablers: people, methods, materials, machinery

20. Nature and quality of advice • Manager • Leader • Coach • Mentor

21. roles • The assessor judges the candidate’s competence; using the evidence requirements as embodied in the instruments. • The moderator judges the assessment process and instruments; using the principles of assessment. • The verifier judges the assessment system; using the quality management system as embodied in the quality management manual.

22. leader • The leader is given authority because of the influence s/he wields, the inspiration that s/he gives, the way in which s/he stimulates achievement and the way in which s/he gives consideration to individuals by acting as coach or mentor to them.

23. manager • When the moderator gives advice on planning, staffing, organising of resources, training and recording within the quality management system s/he assumes the role of manager.

24. coach • Assessors are bound to need their skills honed from time to time. It is like the sharpening of the blade. The moderators are the blade sharpeners of the assessors and designers. The best approach is to give the coaching of a specific procedure [or other aspect] as soon as the requirement is detected.

25. mentor • Mentoring can be described as a dynamic and reciprocal relationship in a work environment whereby a more advanced and wise career incumbent [moderator] helps a less experienced person who has development potential [assessor] develop in some specified capacity.