Assessment Gaps
Lacking content in the assessment tool or methodology can seriously affect the quality of your training, assessment and ultimately the competency outcome of a student. Conducting a gap analysis is one way of ensuring all the holes are fixed and compliance is maintained against the unit and other standards that are to be adhered to.
What is an Assessment Gap Analysis ?
An Assessment Gap Analysis is like conducting an audit or validation holistically looking at the assessment content. Most assessment gaps identified are basically the lack of assessment methods. Insufficient assessment methods and mapping attempts try to assess only one aspect of compliance against one unit criteria. These are usually caused by the following 3 areas
1 - through the lack of understanding of linkages within the unit of competency criteria,
2 - incomplete and incorrect mapping structure
3 - a lack of tools to achieve this process accurately and quickly.
A gap analysis should include the review of the tools and ends with the creation of a matrix document, which includes a diagrammatic way of viewing the whole assessment process and system, content and relationships of criteria wthin its assessments system in one place, a bit like a web.
Case Study
Here is an example in How Gaps in Assessment can be dangerous.
A Mapping document of a unit of competency notes only one method of assessment for one performance criteria. The performance criteria identifies and notes that the student is to be assessed for their performance of:
Incorporate an understanding of the relationship between attitudes to eating and physical and mental health in client interactions.
The mapping shows the provider assessing this criteria in only one written assessment. There is nothing in the mapping that has shown the Trainers and Assessors, and or Assessment Writers and Compliance staff have unpacked the unit to really understand what a competent person ‘looks like’.
The mapping is missing the linkages between each section or parts of the unit together. Incorrectly mapping (process and document) means this Training Organisation missed the relationship with this performance criteria and the knowledge evidence of:
1. Information to promote positive attitudes to eating and body composition:
relationship between fitness, health and appearance
relationship between healthy eating, physical and mental health
realistic expectations of nutrition and goal attainment
link between healthy eating and common client health conditions
It’s also missed the connection with the performance evidence which clearly notes:
Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role. This must include period(s) totalling at least two hours comprising at least five different client contact sessions, and:
1. access and provide each client with:
- current healthy eating information from identified current healthy eating information resources
- information on healthy eating related to the maintenance of health and prevention of chronic disease
2. answer client queries and concerns regarding interpretation of healthy eating information
3. collaborate with clients to implement healthy eating habits
Other areas of the unit also missed could include the foundation skills linked to the performance criteria and the environment that the assessment is to take place (assessment conditions).
In this example clearly one method of assessment is not going to provide sufficient or reliable assessment of any or all the criteria, nor is it going to be able to provide evidence of the job / role skills, task skills and task management skill (dimensions of competency).
Depending on the level of competency, the assessment methods and tools will increase in complexity and possibly also evidence quantity.
Correctly mapping the unit first, making the connections and referring to assessments available would have ensured these gaps in training, compliance, assessment and competency could have been avoided and quality would have been built in to the assessment process and tools.
If you have any concerns about your mapping or assessment compliance and want to know more EDCV are ready to assist. Contact us today!
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Take the Assessment Quiz or Mapping for Compliance
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