This article aims to clarify some of the jargon used by RTOs relating to assessments:
- Assessment methods
- Assessment instruments
- Assessment tasks
- Assessment mapping matrix.
Assessment methods
ASQA has published a Guide to assessment tools. This is a reputable source of information about assessment.
On pages 4 and 5 of this guide, it describes four types of assessment methods:
- Questioning
- Direct observation
- Product based methods
- Third-party evidence.
All other assessment methods are a variation of these four assessment methods. For example, an interview or competency conversation is questioning. And a Portfolio of Evidence is a product based method.
Questioning is applicable for gathering knowledge evidence. The other three types of assessment methods are applicable to gathering performance evidence.
Assessment instruments
The assessment instrument is the document used to support the gathering of evidence and recording the assessor’s judgements about the quality of the evidence (Satisfactory or Not Yet Satisfactory).
The following shows the assessment instrument relevant for each assessment method.
Assessment tasks
RTOs will use assessment tasks to organise and implement their assessment strategies. I would usually plan to gather the knowledge evidence first unless otherwise stated. Therefore, the first assessment tasks would be Knowledge Questions (the candidate provides oral or written answers to questions).
One or more assessment tasks would be needed to gather sufficient performance evidence. These days, many units of competency specify a frequency or volume of Performance Evidence.
For example, the Performance Evidence for the BSBCMM411 Make presentations states that the candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to prepare and deliver at least two different presentations.
Therefore, one assessment task can be used to gather the knowledge evidence and two assessment tasks can be used to gather the performance evidence.
The following table shows the relationship between assessment tasks and assessment methods.
Unit of Competency: BSBCMM411 Make presentations
The above table shows that Assessment Task 2 uses two assessment methods to gather the performance evidence (direct observation and the review of product, and Assessment Task 3 also uses two assessment methods (third-party report and the review of product).
In this example, products may include relevant emails, presentation plans, feedback forms, visual aids, presentation materials, evaluation reports, self-reflections, etc.
Assessment mapping matrix
Competency-based assessment is assessment based the competency, and competency is described by the Unit of Competency and its associated Assessment Requirements. We use a matrix to visually connect the unit of competency with the assessment methods or assessment tasks.
There are two types of assessment matrix:
- Mapping against assessment methods
- Mapping against assessment tasks
Mapping assessment methods
The following is an example a mapping the assessment methods for the BSBCMM411 Make presentations unit of competency.
The above example visually shows that questioning is not being used to gather the performance evidence.
Mapping assessment tasks
The following is an example a mapping the assessment tasks for the BSBCMM411 Make presentations unit of competency.
The above example visually shows that questioning is not being used to gather the performance evidence.
Adding cross-referencing details
The following is an example of an assessment mapping matrix that provides cross referencing details relating to the assessment instruments for the BSBCMM411 Make presentations unit of competency.
The level of detail in the above example supports the review, validation or audit processes conducted by an RTO.
In conclusion
The jargon associated with competency-based assessments can be confusing, especially if the person is new to the Australian VET system. And using a matrix for mapping the assessment may take time to understand.
Competency-based assessment is assessment based the competency. We use a matrix to visually connect the unit of competency with the assessment methods or assessment tasks.
Step 1. Copy and paste the unit of competency
Step 2. Identify the assessment methods or assessment tasks that will be used to gather evidence of competency
My preference is to use assessment tasks rather than assessment methods to organise and implement the assessments.
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