Online learning is reshaping the VET sector! 🖥️
While offering your courses online or in a blended mode offers many advantages for your RTO and your students, it also brings compliance challenges. As the demand for online delivery skyrockets, how do we ensure practical assessments meet the Standards? From video role-plays to workplace observations, let’s take a look at our top 5 tips for conducting assessments online.
1. Leverage Technology
It’s easy to design assessments the old way without thinking too much about all the new tools and technology that can support modern assessment practices. Utilise the hundreds of systems and platforms that are available for managing online learning. This includes tools for real-time monitoring and assessment such as Zoom or MS Teams. They can be used for role-plays, practical demonstrations, and workplace observations. A correctly set up learning management system can also support by storing video evidence and help you with managing appointments with students to view their live assessments such as in a role play or workplace observation.
2. Clear Guidelines
- Provide students and assessors with clear guidelines on how assessments will be conducted online. This includes instructions for role-plays, requirements for video submissions, and protocols for online observations. Your guidelines should include things like:
What needs to be seen and heard in the video (e.g. is it OK for the student to be taking a selfie or do they need to make sure someone else is videoing at least 3 metres back from them so you can see the environment) - What conditions must the video be created in – if it’s a Workplace video, is after hours OK, or does it need to be during work hours, while dealing with customers etc..
- What permission must be granted for others to appear in videos?
3. Confidentiality & Consent
Especially in sectors like early childhood education, community services, or dealing with clients, ensure your instructions make provisions for gaining necessary consent before any filming in a workplace. Take time to get to know the practicality and confidentiality requirements of each industry. Remember that students will need consent from everyone who appears in the video.
4. Diverse Assessment Methods
Don’t rely solely on one method. Use a combination of video conferencing, self-recorded videos, supervisor reports, and other tools to gather a comprehensive view of a student’s skills and knowledge. Remember that supervisor reports can only be used as supplementary evidence and are often not enough to confirm workplace skills, but may be able to support other forms of primary evidence.
5. Training & Support
Offer training sessions for both trainers and students on how to use online tools effectively. Ensure that there’s technical support available for any issues that might arise.
