Beginning at the end!
Sounds a little counter-intuitive I know, but when we are speaking about competency-based training and assessment – it is the only logical place to begin.
Having come from a corporate non-accredited training background, the concept of competency standards, performance criteria and rules of evidence was a little foreign to me all those years ago when I commenced working in the VET sector.
I also questioned the way that I was taught about these competency standards (gosh, I must have been an annoying student!) I remember flipping to the back page of the competency standard to look at the Critical Aspects of Evidence (as they were known back in the olden days) and my trainer questioning me on why I was doing that. Of course I looked there first – they told me what a competent learner looked like. Doesn’t it make more sense to begin at the end?
It’s a little like booking a holiday (and don’t we all need one of those!). You pick your destination and then you work backwards to fill in the gaps such as accommodation, tours, sightseeing, how you are going to get there as well as what you need – a passport, suitcase, travel products etc.
Same deal with competency based assessment. I ask myself ‘What does a competent learner look like at the end of this assessment? What can a competent learner do?’ Essentially – what is the destination?
Before commencing any assessment writing I ask myself those questions. I also often conjure up an actual image in my head of what that learner can do once they have achieved competency. And depending on what I am writing, I have imaginary farmers, construction workers, activity leaders, baristas and retail workers come along on the assessment writing journey with me as a reminder of what a competent learner looks like. Sometimes I give them names and personalities. (Okay, that may be a little weird)
Beginning at the end or with the final destination in mind is a perfect way to write for competency based assessment. I love competency based assessment – it’s all about outputs. ‘Can the learner perform the tasks required?’ Yes – great they are competent! No – they require further training before achieving competency.
And don’t get me wrong – I love competency standards too! They provide the perfect framework to determine the competency of a learner. I just think they need to be flipped so we can all begin at the end.
Image by Canva
