Ordinarily this PD opportunity, An Introduction to Local Assessment for New Assessors, would be offered via a full day, face to face session where we would work through the Powerpoint presentation, while dipping in and out of a number of handouts and engaging in discussion and group work. Due to the current restrictions on the number of people who can meet as a group, indoors, it has proven impossible to use this model of delivery at the moment.
Instead we will use a 2-hour workshop to allow those logging into the session to tease out the detail contained in the presentation and documentation listed below. To maximise the learning from the workshop, it is important that those logging in would have familiarised themselves with the content of the slides in the Powerpoint presentation. This is very important as a 2-hour workshop will not be able to cover all of the detail that would normally be shared over a full day face to face session. Please note, there will be limited value to someone logging in to the workshop if they have not studied the Powerpoint presentation and documents below.
The Powerpoint presentation includes a lot of the detail that will support you in devising local assessment for the first time and is available to you as a resource that you can refer to time and again.
There are several documents listed below, each one with a short description outlining its contents and explaining the document's importance and place in assisting those who will assess learners using local assessment for the first time. It is important that those logging in to the workshop would have familiarised themselves with the documents before the workshop.
Those who log into the session will be facilitated to ask questions and request clarification on issues arising through the presentation and/or listed documents.
Presentation:
The Powerpoint presentation should be studied in advance of the workshop. Please note any questions or queries you have and where possible we will deal with these during the workshop. Through the presentation there are requests for you to carry out some tasks. Where this is the case you will see the task graphic to your left.
Documentation:
1. QQI - Who we are and what we do
This document was published by QQI in August 2017 and it explains, in plain English, all about the role of QQI, who QQI works with, the services provided by QQI and so on. It is a very handy reference document to dip in and out of. It can also be used to explain to learners and other stakeholders about QQI. This document is referenced on slide 4 of the Powerpoint presentation.
2. QQI Quality Assuring Assessment, Guidelines for Providers - Revised 2013 (Version 2 - revised 2018*)
These guidelines were published by QQI to assist providers in the development and implementation of their quality assured processes and procedures for the fair and consistent assessment of learners. It is a very useful reference document for all those with a role in assessment and for that reason it is recommended, if possible, to print a copy of it for your own use and have it beside you as you work through the Powerpoint presentation. Reference will be made to many of the sections of this document throughout the Powerpoint presentation. This document is referenced on slides 8, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 38 and 50 of the Powerpoint presentation.
3. The National Framework of Qualifications
The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a 10-level framework through which learning achievements may be measured and related to each other. The NFQ is referenced on slide 11 of the Powerpoint presentation.
4. The Grid of Level Indicators
The Grid of Level Indicators describes, in terms of general (non-subject-specific) statements, a person's relevant knowledge, skill and competence for each of the 10 levels of the NFQ. It describes the standards for a person's learning achievements at each level. The Grid of Level Indicators is referenced on slides 13, 15, 17, 35 and 42 of the Powerpoint presentation. It may be useful to print off the grid for future reference, ideally on an A3 page to aid reading.
5. The relevant QQI Award Specification(s)
It is very important to be familiar with the contents of the relevant award specification(s) for the module(s) being taught. All award specifications for the QQI Common Awards System (CAS) are available for download at the following link: https://qsearch.qqi.ie/WebPart/Search?searchtype=awards. Award specifications are referenced on slides 17 to 22, 33 and 43 of the Powerpoint presentation.
6. QQI Grading Criteria for Awards at levels 1 to 6
These grading criteria are copied from pages 22 and 23 of the QQI Quality Assuring Assessment, Guidelines for Providers document referenced at number 2 above. The QQI grading criteria are referenced on slides 29, 30, 31, 35 and 42 of the Powerpoint presentation.
7. Devising an Assessment Instrument
This short document provides detail to supplement the graphic that is referenced on slide 36 of the Powerpoint presentation. Ideally it should be used alongside the section on assessment from the relevant module to guide the assessor when devising an assessment brief and/or examination paper.
8. Sample Assessment Briefs
There are two assessment briefs available for viewing. The briefs are not exemplars, but instead are examples of how a brief could be structured and worded. The actual information that should be contained in a brief for your provider will be illustrated in your provider's assessment brief template. If your provider does not have an agreed assessment brief template, the same briefs here may provide you with an example of the key information that may be included in an assessment brief. These sample briefs are referenced on slide 39 of the Powerpoint presentation.
Sample Assessment Briefs: Level 2 (Writing M2C02) Level 5 (Social Studies 5N1370)
This short document provides detail to supplement the graphic that is referenced on slide 48 of the Powerpoint presentation. Ideally it should be used alongside the section on assessment criteria from the relevant module - the assessment criteria are often presented on learner marking sheets in the module.
10. Sample Marking Schemes and Outline Solutions
There is one sample marking scheme (for a project) and one sample marking scheme and set of outline solutions (for a structured question from a theory examination) available for viewing. These are not exemplars, but instead are examples of how a marking scheme could be structured and worded. These sample markings schemes are relevant to the contents of slides 47 and 48 of the Powerpoint presentation.
Sample Marking Scheme (for a project) Sample Marking Scheme and Outline Solutions (for a structured question)
