How to Use the Multi-Purpose Rubrics

Effectively Use the Rubrics Across Several Areas Within the RTO

The Innovative Multi-Purpose Rubrics have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness as:

  • Descriptive Observation Checklists for Training and Assessment Practices.
  • Gap Assessments for Assessment Validation Sessions.
  • Guides for developing RPL Kits by leveraging the Observable Behavioural Actions/Tasks within the Rubrics.
  • Resources for Contextualising Training and Assessment materials to fit different workplace contexts, tasks and activities.

Overall, they significantly contribute to the Continuous Improvement of RTO activities.


How to Effectively use the Rubrics for Training & Assessment?

Using the Rubrics for Training and Assessment is a simple and straight forward process.

Training:

  1. Introduction: Begin the unit delivery by providing each student with a physical or electronic copy of the relevant Rubric.
  2. Reference Material: Supply students with the URL or a hard copy of the Unit of Competency and Associated Assessment Requirements from training.gov.au.
  3. Explanation: Clarify how students should showcase each Performance Criterion and the Performance Evidence Tasks by referencing the Observable Behavioural Actions outlined in the Rubric. Ensure they comprehend the skills and knowledge required for successful completion of the unit.
  4. Resource Usage: Instruct students to keep their Rubric copy as a learning tool, guiding them on how to demonstrate their skills during the practical assessments.

Assessment:

When the Assessment Conditions of the unit being assessed stipulates that assessment can be conducted in a Simulated Workplace Environment:

  • Observe and assess students’ skills and knowledge in simulation while demonstrating the Performance Evidence tasks. Use the scenario provided in the Rubrics to assess students’ skills and knowledge against the PE tasks in the assessment section within the Rubric.

When the Assessment Conditions of the unit being assessed stipulates that assessment must be conducted only in a Workplace:

  • Observe and assess students’ skills and knowledge in the workplace, using the assessment section within the Rubric, while they perform the Performance Evidence tasks. In this case no scenario is provided.

Notes to Assessor

  1. If students are required to create any documents as outlined in the Rubric, aligning with the unit's Performance Evidence tasks, these documents are typically already completed by the students in their existing assessment tools. Therefore, there is no need for additional document development. Instead, assess their skills by observing them perform the PE tasks using the assessment section within the Rubric.
  2. If your current assessment tools include role-play scenarios similar to those in the Rubrics, disregard the scenarios provided in the Rubrics. Instead, use the assessment section within the Rubrics as a role-play checklist to observe and assess the students' performance in alignment with the Performance Evidence tasks. 

How to Use the Rubrics in Other Capacities?

RPL Kits: Integrate the Rubrics into your Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Kits, to enhance the assessment process for individuals with prior experience or qualifications. Integration in RPL kits will provide clear and sufficient Observable Behaviour Actions to applicants to demonstrate their skills and knowledge for each unit of competency they are being assessed for.

Assessment Validation: Enhance your assessment validation processes, for the whole five-year validation plan/schedule, by integrating the Rubrics into your current assessment tools, which will serve as an invaluable outcome for these sessions. For instance, when the validation team identifies areas for improvement in the assessment tools, the Rubrics can be recommended as Gap Assessments to enhance compliance and improve assessment practices.

Contextualisation of Training and Assessment Materials: Units of competency are often ambiguous or vague. This is not a design fault of the Australian VET system. It is a design feature. When writing the units of competency, the Training Package Developers aim to describe elements and performance criteria as broadly as possible. This allows a single unit to cover a range of circumstances and situations.

The Rubrics will allow you to contextualise your training and assessment materials to fit different workplaces, work tasks and activities, equipment and resources. It is a way of making learning and assessing relevant to a person's workplace experience.