Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

 

Flexible Learning and Assessment

HERON ASSESS is committed to providing a flexible and
equitable process for learning and assessment by delivering
quality, client-centred learning experiences to all clients and
applying the most effective and appropriate teaching and
learning modes and technologies. This will be achieved by
seeking to extend flexible learning opportunities for its clients
and promoting flexible teaching and assessment opportunities
for its staff within resource constraints.

 

Heron Assess conducts flexible teaching approaches that loosen
the constraints of conventional classroom based delivery.

 

Understanding Assessment

What are competency standards?

Competency standards are used around Australia. They describe what your industry accepts as effective performance in the workplace. This includes the skills and knowledge you need to do a job.

 

These standards are divided into units of competency. They match particular activities that people carry out at work. You could say that your job is made up of several units of competency. Units of competency can be found in a document called a Training Package. Most industries have a Training Package. Each unit of competency is in turn broken down into smaller parts, called elements and performance criteria.

 

Units of competency can seem confusing when you first look at them. But it is important for you to understand what you are being assessed against. To achieve your qualification you will need to complete a certain number of units of competency. Several of these may be compulsory as part of the Training Package.

 

In addition, you, your employer and your training provider will choose optional units that best fit the needs of your workplace and your own career directions.

 

What does it mean to be competent?

 

• knowing how to do a job to an acceptable standard

• understanding why it should be done that way

• being able to do different tasks at the same time

• dealing with everyday problems that may occur

• understanding workplace policies and procedures

• fitting in with others in the workplace.

 

What is assessment?

Assessment means collecting evidence about your skills and knowledge, comparing it to a set of competency standards and determining whether you are competent. If you are ‘not yet competent’ your assessor will talk to you about what you can do to reach competency. You may need to undertake additional assessment tasks, do some more training or gain more experience before being assessed again.

 

What Constitutes Evidence?

‘Evidence collected is to establish what a person can do in the workplace’.

 

Rules of Evidence

In Australia and overseas, there are four rules that concern the assessment and judgment of evidence against any Competency Standards. They are applied to every item or activity the candidate produces or performs in order to ensure that what he/she has done or is doing, satisfactorily meets the requirements of the standards. This is not just on one occasion, but on as many occasions as the competent performance is required.

 

Valid	The evidence that you bring forward must be VALID, that is it must relate to the specific Competency Standard you are showing evidence against.  In other words the assessment must assess the skills it is meant to assess
Authentic	This evidence must be AUTHENTIC, in other words it must reflect something you did.
Current	It must be CURRENT in that it demonstrates recent competency
Sufficient	The amount of evidence collected must be SUFFICIENT to make a judgment that you are able to achieve
Reliable	Is evidence a true indication

 

Recognition of AQF Qualifications

What is Credit Transfer of Qualifications?

If you have studied a similar unit at a higher level or equivalent with another registered training provider, you may be eligible for an exemption for that unit. Talk to a staff member regarding a possible Exemption.

 

What is Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)?

HERON ASSESS recognises skills and knowledge gained through life experiences, work experiences, other courses/qualifications and on-the-job training through its Recognition of Prior Learning process. The main focus is on the learning outcomes of these prior experiences and relating these directly to the course/qualification outcomes.

• It may mean you complete your qualification sooner or that you have more time to spend on other units.

• You will not be repeating learning you have already gained.

• You will be given formal recognition of knowledge you have gained in other situations.