Assessment (general)
Ward
Educational Consulting can offer a wide ranging knowledge of assessment
methods, including written tests, competence-based assessment and the
accreditation of prior learning.
Examples of projects undertaken:
·
Contributions to the ‘Six Country Study’ by the
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, looking at curriculum, assessment and
grading issues in level 2 & 3 general and vocational qualifications: field
work in Norway and France; writing overall reports on ‘Grading the Diploma’
(findings and issues relevant to the new Diplomas) and ‘Benchmarking
Qualifications’ (alignment of qualification levels within and between
countries); (QCA, 2007-08)
·
Survey of international practice (selected
countries) on special assessment arrangements for candidates with disabilities
in national examinations at ages 16 and 18 (QCA, 2007) – a contribution
to QCA’s briefing document: Assessment
for disabled students: an international comparison (See http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_15473.aspx)
·
Contribution to the evaluation of the pilot of
the Extended Project qualification at A Level (CEI Centre, University of
Warwick for QCA, 2007-08) and to the evaluation of the pilots of the Level
1 and Level 2 Projects (CEI Centre, 2008-09)
·
Advice to an awarding body on developing an
assessment strategy (NCFE, 2006))
·
Contribution to development of proposals for
assessment and grading in the Specialised Diplomas (as sub-contractor to
Warwick University, for QCA, 2006)
·
Advice to a small awarding body on documenting
systems for ensuring quality in objective testing, followed by training for
item writers and assistance in item analysis and review (CIBTAC 2004-05)
·
International comparison of assessment systems,
specifically use of teacher assessment in level 2 and level 3 qualifications,
for the 14-19 Tomlinson Review (QCA, 2003-04)
·
Comparison of assessment, grading, quality
assurance and standards setting in a number of UK and international
qualifications, for the post-Tomlinson work to develop Vocational Diplomas (QCA,
2005)
·
Comparison of the use of an ‘extended essay’ (or
project) in a number of UK and international qualifications, for the
post-Tomlinson work on possible introduction of an extended essay into the A
level programme (QCA, 2005)
·
Assessment
review for City & Guilds (2003)
And (during employment with Guildford Educational Services Ltd)
·
Project
to investigate company methodologies for identifying, assessing and accrediting
'non-formal learning' (CEDEFOP, 2000-02)
·
Advice
to major UK clearing bank/building society on accreditation of qualifications
for one category of personnel; development of multiple-choice question bank for
training/assessment on a specific area of bank work and writing of
multiple-choice questions on training for regulated financial services
personnel
·
Quality
assurance monitoring projects for NVQs in Accounting and Business
Administration (NCVQ, 1995)
·
Sub-contractor
to the Further Education Unit in a project to evaluate GNVQ assessment (1994)
and a further project to provide guidance to GNVQ centres on internal
verification
·
Consultant
to project to survey assessment and verification methods in NVQs (NCVQ and
Employment Department-TEED, 1991)
·
Assistance
in development of an assessment scheme for Level I and II NVQs in Business
Administration (Pitman Examinations Institute).