I was working with a client the other day and we were working through writing assessments. We were at the planning stages for an updated Training Package so were reviewing the work tasks that occurred that could incorporate one, two or maybe three different units of competency. We found that there was some tasks that we could cluster the units together into one assessment.

The client had been receiving feedback from students saying the assessments in the past had been repetitive. By clustering we knew we would be able to reduce the repetition, yet maintain the integrity of the units.

Clustering units brings about significant efficiencies, as common knowledge, skills and performance requirements can be identified and addressed together, instead of multiple times with each unit.

The benefits include:

• Reduced duplication of the assessment (especially in relation to skills and knowledge)
• The assessment makes logically reflects a real work scenario and therefore makes sense to the employee
• It reduces inconvenience for the employer
• maximised efficiency of effort for the trainer/assessor and the student
• It maximises the opportunities for holistic evidence gathering in the assessment process
• It may address any co-requisite requirements of a unit of competency

 

During the planning stages we knew we had to consult with key personnel in the workplace, so I left the office with this task in mind. The next time I visited the client they had spoken to training staff, work teams, team leaders and operational  managers. Wow, what a great response they had received from these consultations.

It was so exciting to be able to put an assessment together that we knew would be welcomed in the industry and one that the students would benefit from.

After we developed the assessments the task was to map the integrated assessment task(s) to all requirements of the applicable units of competency. Each unit individually.

We used the mapping exercise to improve and streamline the proposed assessment tasks. In fact if we hadn’t mapped it back, then we wouldn’t have seen the gaps in the assessment. So it really is a good checklist.

Finally the assessment was ready for trial.