A4PL Course Assessments

Assessing for Prior Learning

Recognising and valuing prior learning and experience

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Course Assessment

To pass this course:

Participants must - undertake and successfully complete two assessments

1. The Process of Assessing for Prior Learning (from an assessors perspective) - excerpts from your learning journal
2. Presenting Evidence for Assessment of Prior Learning (from a candidates perspective) - written or oral assessment

Assessment Activities and Criteria

1). The Process of Assessing for Prior Learning

Throughout your engagement with this course you are asked to maintain a learning journal, you can do this in whatever format is most useful to you. A blog, a written document, or voice recordings are some examples, but you need to be able to share excerpts of your learning progress with the course facilitator.

Whilst exploring this course, critically consider the process of assessing for prior learning from the perspective of a lecturer in an assessor or facilitator role, exploring the following areas:

1. the advantages and disadvantages of recognising prior learning in tertiary education (overview) - (due end of 1st module)
2. the range and authenticity of evidence to be assessed (what is assessed) - (due end of 2nd module)
3. the processes, practices and possible tools for assessment (how the evidence is assessed) - (due end of 6th module)
4. how consideration of student diversity and culture can be acknowledged (acknowledging difference) - (due end of 7th module)
5. how professional judgement on the part of the assessor informs the assessment process (decision making process) - (due end of 8th module)

As you progress through the course, submit excerpts from your learning journal that demonstrate critical discussion of the 5 areas identified above. You can choose the size of your excerpt; some will be smaller/larger than others depending upon the focus. Discuss any queries with your course facilitator. You will receive feedback on each submission.

NB: Critical discussion involves a depth of thought that considers and debates a variety of perspectives including your own. Critical in this sense refers to reviewing, analysing and evaluating in depth; it does not mean focusing on negativity. It is possible to critically discuss and still totally agree with a particular perspective.

Marking criteria

Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:

Critical discussion:

• a) of the pros and cons of recognising prior learning in tertiary education (overview)
• b) of the types, relevance, and use of evidence in the RPL process (what is assessed)
• c) of assessment tools and processes in recognising prior learning (how the evidence is assessed)
• d) of consideration of student diversity and culture in the RPL process (acknowledging difference)
• e) on making RPL judgements and the impact of the context in which it occurs (decision making process)
• f) All discussion is referenced and supported by literature sources (applies to each area above)

Due Dates: confirmed dates of end of identified modules to be negotiated with course facilitator.

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2). Presenting Evidence for Assessment of Prior Learning

Activity

• Choose a minimum of 2 learning outcomes from a course you have not formally studied that you believe you have already achieved.
• Gather evidence to demonstrate how you have achieved these learning outcomes.
• Reflect on both:
  • the process of gathering evidence
  • and your rationale for choice of evidence;

to demonstrate how your prior learning relates to the learning outcomes.

Assessment

Demonstrate in either a written form or through a professional conversation process how you have met your chosen learning outcomes through your prior learning.

Include both your supporting evidence and a reflection on the process and rationale for choosing that evidence.

Marking criteria

Achievement of the following criteria will result in a successful pass for this assessment:

a) identification of learning outcomes in a recognised qualification/course

b) presentation of a relevant collection of own prior learning evidence for comparison against the learning outcomes

c) critical reflection upon own evidence gathered

Due Date: Assessment to be presented at a negotiated time and date

Submit or present to the Course Facilitator

Grading: As the emphasis is on learning process rather than outcome there are 2 grades only in this course: passed or not passed

Referencing

The assessment requires you to include references to some of the extra material you have been reading.

The following links take you to some useful resources to help with referencing.

Citation Machine is a great website that takes you through all the steps of adding the information required for a reference then produces the formatted reference for you. You can then cut and paste it into your document. Very handy.

APA Referencing Guide is a great website that clearly describes all the information you would need to produce APA references. I'd particularly recommend the sections on in-text citations and the reference list sections. Quick access buttons for these can be found at the bottom of the first web page.