• Australian Flexible Learning Framework

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11 August 2011The use of e-assessment is increasing rapidly in the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia.

Recent national benchmarking surveys, conducted by the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), revealed that over forty per cent of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and more than sixty per cent of teachers and trainers are using some form of e-assessment (Australian Flexible Learning Framework 2010).

The most common form of e-assessment appears to be the online quiz (Callan and Clayton, 2010). However the consultations conducted during the development of these guidelines revealed that assessors are using a wide range of e-assessment strategies to collect evidence, provide feedback and record and report assessment outcomes.

Both the Framework and the former National Quality Council have been keen to promote e-assessment and to ensure that e-assessment materials and practices are consistent with the principles of good assessment that are embedded in the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).

To this end, the Council and the Framework commissioned the development of this set of guidelines. These are designed to:

• promote quality e-assessment materials and practices that are consistent with the (AQTF),
• ensure that e-assessment materials are readily accessible across the VET system, and
• encourage further innovation in the design and deployment of e-assessment materials and systems.

It is envisaged that a range of stakeholders will use the guidelines. For example:

• enterprise and industry organisations may use the guidelines to check that eassessment materials meet the relevant competency standards, are accessible to all employees and are deployed in the most efficient manner.
• RTOs may use the guidelines to inform decisions about the acquisition or development of e-assessment materials and systems.
• assessors may apply the guidelines in deciding how e-assessment materials and systems may be used to enhance the collection of quality evidence, improve feedback to candidates and streamline the processing, storage and retrieval of assessment data.
• AQTF auditors may use the guidelines as a reference when evaluating the eassessment arrangements employed by RTOs.
• AQTF registering bodies may use the guidelines in providing information to assessors, AQTF auditors and RTOs on the features of quality e-assessment materials and practices.