When you are writing an RPL assessment, it is important to keep the principles of assessment and the rules of evidence in mind. These two things will help ensure that your assessment is fair and accurate.
The principles of assessment are:
- The assessment must be fair
- The assessment must be flexible
- The assessment must be valid
- The assessment must be reliable
This means that the assessment should accurately measure what it is supposed to measure, be consistent in the way it measures it, and be free from any bias. Relevant evidence is evidence that directly supports the claims being made in the assessment. Reliable evidence is evidence that is trustworthy and can be verified.
The rules of evidence are:
- Evidence must be valid
- Evidence must be sufficient
- Evidence must be current
- Evidence must be authentic
The evidence must be authentic, current and directly related to the learning outcomes being assessed. The evidence must be sufficient in order to demonstrate that the learner has achieved the learning outcomes.
When writing an RPL assessment, there are a number of ways to meet the principles of assessment and rules of evidence. We at CAQA include the following:
- Self-check questionnaire booklet
- Competency conversation booklet
- Demonstrations and practical observations booklet
- Third party booklet
- RPL Assessor copy with benchmarking responses
- Comprehensive mapping document to the training product
A self-check questionnaire for the candidate. This will help to assess the candidate’s skills and experience. They also help to identify any gaps in your knowledge or understanding of the qualification requirements.
The competency conversation is also an important part of the assessment process, during which the assessor will ask questions about the candidate’s skills and experience.
Demonstrations and practical observations may also be used as part of the assessment process. Demonstrations and practical observations allow you to see the students and what they can do and gives you a chance to see them in action.
Third-party booklet assists in collecting evidence from third-party personnel.
Finally, the assessor should have a copy of the training product mapping document to ensure that all areas of the product have been covered.
Keep these things in mind when you are writing your RPL assessment and you will be sure to create a fair and accurate assessment.
The assessor must also have the relevant expertise and experience to assess the work according to principles of assessment and rules of evidence. The assessment process can vary depending on the provider you are using, but all RPL assessments should be fair, transparent and based on evidence.
If you are unsure of how to write an RPL assessment, it is advisable to seek assistance from an experienced RPL assessor. We at CAQA Resources have 1000s of RPL kits developed, if you would like to see a sample, send us an email at info@caqa.com.au.
