Validation Policy. Purpose. Scheduling Validation. Occurrence of Validation

Transcription

1 Purpose The Open Colleges School of Health validation activities reflect current vocational training practices, and use contemporary knowledge of the vocational education and training environment. Our validation system ensures that assessment (including recognition of prior learning) complies with the requirements of the relevant training package or VET accredited course and is conducted in accordance with the Principles of Assessment and the Rules of Evidence. Validation of our Training and Assessment Strategy/ies (TAS), assessment practices and judgements are conducted in accordance the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 as specified in Clauses 1.6(a), 1.9, 1.10 and Validation is a quality review process that confirms our assessment system consistently produces valid assessment judgements. We implement a plan for ongoing systematic validation to the review of assessment methods, processes, tools and judgements for each qualification currently on our scope of registration. The process involves reviewing a statistically valid sample of the assessments and making recommendations for future improvements to the tools, processes and/or outcomes and acting upon such recommendations. Each training product (AQF qualification, skill set, unit of competency, accredited course and module) on our Scope of Registration has a TAS that is developed for different delivery models or target groups. Our TAS are validated by industry stakeholders to ensure our practices align to current methods, products and performance expectations for the workplace, particularly in areas where technology and/or techniques change rapidly. Scheduling Validation We have a schedule to validate each training product on our scope of registration. The validation schedule will be amended when a new training product is added and will continue to meet the documented timeframe and completion requirements. Occurrence of Validation The time period for the selection of assessment judgements is determined by the relevant TAS and timetabling. The time period is for at least six months to align with the retention requirements described in ASQA s General Direction Retention requirements for completed student assessment items. RTO POL Validation - July 2017 v15.1 Page 1

2 Our validation schedule is a five year plan ensuring: each training product is reviewed at least once in that five-year period at least 50 per cent of the training products are validated in the first three years of the schedule. Training products may be validated more often, if risk indicators demonstrate that more frequent validation is required. Indicators of risk might include: the use of new assessment tools delivery of training products where safety is a concern the level and experience of the assessor changes in technology, workplace processes, legislation, and licensing requirements stakeholder feedback. Validation activities are generally conducted after assessment is complete in order to validate both assessment practices and judgements. Focus of Validation A valid sampling approach provides a quality review process and allows a reasonable inference to be made that assessment judgements have been valid overall. When validating a qualification at least two units of competency are sampled. The number of assessment practices and judgements from the sample of the unit/s of competency is determined by using the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) validation sample size calculator tool. This number may be expanded, particularly when validation outcomes indicate that assessment judgements are not valid. To reliably predict the likelihood of any assessment judgement being valid the sample selected for validation is random and representative of all assessment judgements. Samples of judged learner evidence are randomly selected using an alphabetical list. The following documents are provided or made accessible for validation: TAS Training Package and in particular, the unit of competency Stakeholder feedback Relevant assessment tools including instructions, unit outlines, session plans, benchmarks, mapping to the unit of competency Any previous assessment validation reports and outcomes RTO POL Validation - July 2017 v15.1 Page 2

3 Sample of completed assessments Other supporting documents as applicable, for example the relevant Learner Information Guide. Validation Participants The Academic Director has responsibility for scheduling assessment validations, inviting the appropriate stakeholders to participate, recording the actions and follow up to ensure actions are completed within given timeframes. Validation may be undertaken by one person or by a team of people, however the process is completed by people who collectively hold: vocational competencies and current industry skills relevant to the assessment being validated current knowledge and skills in vocational teaching and learning the TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (or its successor) or the TAESS00001 Assessor Skills Set (or its successor) validation participants may be employees of Open Colleges School of Health or external validators. External validation participants may include: employers and employer associations and other industry bodies educators or consultants. Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) All trainers and assessors who make judgements against the ACSF are involved in validation activities to ensure that their assessment match the pre-determined benchmarks. Accurate professional judgements are validated through agreement with people who hold the above skills and/or qualifications. Stakeholder Feedback Stakeholder feedback is essential to confirm our assessment system produces valid assessment judgements and ensures our graduates and learners have the skills and knowledge required by industry, as expressed in the training package or accredited course. RTO POL Validation - July 2017 v15.1 Page 3

4 The following information is gathered relevant to the unit/s of competency being validated at any given point in time: Learner Feedback Surveys of learners Learner QI surveys Unsolicited feedback. Internal Feedback Completed by Educators as part of the scheduled validation activities Opportunity for improvement (OFI) forms Moderation activities. External Feedback Clinical placement industry feedback Employer QI Surveys (where applicable) Scheduled structured validation activity outcomes Unsolicited feedback. Moderation The requirement in the Standards to undertake validation of assessment judgements does not affect moderation activities, or any other process aimed at increasing the quality of assessment. Moderation is a quality control process aimed at bringing assessment judgements into alignment. It is generally conducted after an assessment has taken place and before the finalisation of learner results. Moderation ensures the same decisions are applied to all assessment results within the same unit of competency. Moderation activities focus on the judgements made by assessors to ensure the same standards are applied to all assessments within a unit. Moderation is undertaken when: inconsistencies are identified in the assessment judgements made by different assessors using the same assessment tool/s or method/s a learner raises a complaint and/or appeal. Should any moderation activities identify repeated inconsistencies in assessment judgements then validation of the unit of competency will be undertaken. RTO POL Validation - July 2017 v15.1 Page 4

5 This Policy should be read in conjunction with the following: Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 Complaints and Appeals Policy Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Policy Relevant Training and Assessment Strategy/ies (TAS) Training and Assessment Policy This Policy is directly supported by the following Procedure(s): Validation Procedure Date of Origin June 2000 Last Review Date July 2017 Next Review Date December 2017 Version 15.1 Authority Responsibility Academic Director Manager, South Australia, Manager, Western Australia Educators RTO POL Validation - July 2017 v15.1 Page 5