How to Plan a Holistic Approach to Assessment

• I am currently assessing the Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision (Construction), which consists of fourteen units. Many of the units have almost identical assessment criteria. For example, assessment criteria 3.1 (Implement a system of checks to ensure that the workforce and visitors are inducted) and 6.1 (Develop and action a system that identifies hazards and reduces risk) in Unit 1 (Maintaining Systems for Health, Safety, Welfare, and Environmental Protection in the Workplace) are identical to assessment criteria 4.1 (conduct checks and confirm arrangements for site safety, welfare, and security before work starts) and 4.2 (conduct checks and confirm arrangements for site safety, welfare, and security during work) in Unit 13 (Co-ordinating Preparation Work for Site or Lifting Operations in the Workplace). The pieces of evidence for assessment criterion 3.1 of unit 1 may be used for assessment criterion 4.1 of unit 13. Likewise, the same pieces of evidence used for assessment criterion 6.1 of unit 1 may be used for assessment criterion 4.2 of unit 13.

• In addition, assessment criteria 1.1 (Use organisational systems and comply with organisational requirements for communicating with, or for, at least four members of the construction team) and 2.2 (Explain methods that can maintain communication between interested people and organisations on typical projects) in unit 9 (Implementing Communication Systems for Construction Projects in the Workplace) are identical to assessment criteria 9.1 (Inform people affected by project works or operations about when works or operations start, expected durations and planned finishing or completions dates) and 9.2 (Explain methods and techniques on informing relevant people about timescales of the works) in unit 13 (Co-ordinating Preparation Work for Site or Lifting Operations in the Workplace). The pieces of evidence for assessment criterion 1.1 of unit 9 may be used for assessment criterion 9.1 of unit 13. Likewise, the same pieces of evidence used for assessment criterion 2.2 of unit 9 may be used for assessment criterion 9.2 of unit 13.

• I provide students with this information during my one-to-one sessions with them and assess their work once they return it via the OneFile e-portfolio and learning software.

Reference/Bibliography

Akubuilo, F. (2012) ‘Holistic assessment of student’s learning outcome’, Journal of Education and Practice, 3(12), pp. 56 – 60.

Davies, A. and Stiling, L. (2021) TAQA – training assessment and quality assurance [PowerPoint presentation]. 22 October.

Gravells, A. (2014) Achieving your assessment & quality assurance units (TAQA). 2nd edn. London: Learning Matters SAGE.

The College of Social Work (2012) Understanding what is meant by holistic assessment. Available at: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Document-library/holistic-assessmentASYE1.pdf (Accessed: 11 November 2021).